Lawyer and Senior Vice President of IMANI-Africa, Kofi Bentil, has cautioned that the widely held belief that elections are won at polling stations is fuelling electoral violence and undermining democratic stability in Ghana.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, December 20, Bentil argued that the framing of elections as battles to be won or lost at polling centres encourages lawlessness and confrontations, particularly during disputed contests.
“The idea that elections are won at the polling stations generates violence. It creates the mindset that if you can control or disrupt the polling station, you can change the outcome,” he stated.
According to him, elections are governed by law and institutional processes, not physical dominance at voting centres. He stressed that disputes arising from elections must be resolved through constitutional and legal channels rather than force.
“Elections are won by following the law, by the collation process, and ultimately by the courts if there is a dispute—not by intimidation or chaos at polling stations,” Bentil added.
His comments come against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s decision to suspend all preparations for the Kpandai parliamentary rerun, which the Electoral Commission had scheduled for December 30, 2025.
In a unanimous ruling, the apex court ordered the EC to halt every activity related to the rerun pending its consideration of a legal challenge seeking to overturn the High Court judgment that annulled the 2024 parliamentary election.
Bentil welcomed the Supreme Court’s intervention, describing it as necessary to prevent confusion and possible unrest.
He noted that the suspension raises critical constitutional questions about jurisdiction, electoral rights and timing, and urged political actors and supporters to exercise restraint.
“When matters are before the courts, everyone must stand down. The rule of law is the only way to protect our democracy,” he said.
The case has been adjourned to January 13, 2026, and until a final determination is made, the Electoral Commission remains legally restrained from proceeding with the rerun.
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