ASK DR. BAWUMIA- He has an experience to share, I think!

I have decided to encourage a discussion around one person whose duty is indispensable when it comes to a political party winning an election.

The fact of the matter is, no candidate, or a political party goes to an election with the intention of losing.

Until the ultimate winner is declared, everyone can brag about winning. But it is the most prepared that comes out top by close of polls.

Between the winner and the loser at the time of declaration is the polling agent.  

And if you really understand what Former President Kufour meant by his assertion that elections are not won during the vote cast, but the brief moment between the vote cast and the declaration of the winner;

… You would then fully appreciate the indispensability and the instrumentality of this figure, whose role, you dare not underestimate. 

Who at all is the Polling Agent?

He is a vouched for party loyalist, and one who stands in for the party interest at the polling center on the day of voting.

Essentially but not legal; he should be a person who is fairly educated.

The reality is that, the African situation is not what we see it to be. People, and I mean the malicious character ones, would stop at nothing to subvert 

what is order.

Therefore it would be an added advantage if the polling agents are enormously witty the African way to equally much all such people.

Kindly do not ask me what I mean by this, because I do not even understand that.But I am only offering a political free consultation.

The agent sincerely should be nothing short of a radical and very 
uncompromising.

Who should my polling agent be?

There is a popular Ghanaian adage which states that, “if you do not know the tradition of your people, you get lost even at your family gathering”

In answering the question, I believe your understanding of what is meant by the simple adage should help.

And it’s simple; you cannot take as a polling agent someone who neither believes you and nor your ideas.

Let’s not be misled into believing that, with good remuneration, the polling agent is going to do a yeoman’s job, no, it doesn’t work that way.

For a woman to love and stay with you throughout the journey, it is not always about money-but understanding we prove a good deal. A blend of both is a mountain moving faith.

So first of all, your choice of a polling agent should be someone who really understands you and the need to even stay awake till the last count of the ballot sheet is done.

He should also be someone who resides within the community or jurisdiction of operation, with this, you can be rest assured that he would help in identifying people who there to impersonate.

Why you must not be compromised in your choice of polling agent come November 7, 2016.

The Electoral Commission (EC) attaches great importance to the work of the polling agent.

Why?

In the wisdom of the EC, if the polling agent does well, the credibility of an election is assured.

It is the believe of the EC that, elections could be enhanced if polling agents help in detecting impersonation, multiple voting, persons who attempt to temper with the contents of a ballot box as well as polling staff who misconduct themselves.

In getting the best of your polling agent on the Election Day, he should be a person you can trust.

You sincerely do not need a person of immerse masculinity, who rather unfortunately and sadly is a dummy. This person is only fit for a wrestling duel.

He can be as thin as I am, but he should be able to discern issues and sign documents at the station.

It is also advantageous if he has a better understanding of basic rule and regulations governing an election.

The duties of the Polling Agent

The singular reason why a candidate should not compromise on the choice of Polling Agent is the need for responsiveness and duty conscienceless.

According to the (EC) the polling agent is duty bound to on the day of election arrive at the polling station in time to observe the preparations before voting begins.

The Polling agent must trust no one to perform what rightfully are his duties to perform, not even the presiding officer, because he also has his duties to be performed.

The EC also warns against taking along materials that identifies one with their candidate or party.

The counting of votes and other administrative functions are preserved for the appointees of the EC and the Polling agent is only to observe, not to interfere.

In the case of lodging complaints, your closest pal should be the presiding 

officer.

Settling for an irresponsive and reactive polling agent is like entrusting the care of your farm or plantation into the hands of a mere scarecrow, rodents would have a field day to plunder your harvest.

So it is prudent that as much as you might have specific instructions for your agent, you agent ought to as much as possible, be proactive to also on the field discern or pick signals of any attempt by any person to subvert due process.

And as intuitively as possible, provide strict solutions to curtail any difficulty that might arise.

The candidate in my view should be weary of a polling agent, who would in not so much extreme cases reach them on phone to lodge complaints.

If it is to be understood that, the polling agent is your direct or indirect representation at the center, then it only make sense that he is able to quickly apply solutions to problems as you might have done if you present.

Paying audience to him on phone is just like you being present in person, and this is a likely recipe to divert your attention from specific roles you also have to play on your part to ensure that the proper thing is done.

Finally, do not in any disregard the polling agent, if you think he has no part to play, ask the New Patriotic Party (NPP), or Mr. “You and I were not there”, I believe they have a firsthand experience to share.