Ghana’s electoral system 'excellent' - U.S. Ambassador to Ghana

U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Robert P. Jackson has lauded Ghana’s electoral system describing it as “excellent”.

Speaking on Class91.3FM’s America Decides programme with host Dr. Etsey Sikanku on Friday, Mr. Jackson said: “I think Ghana has an excellent electoral system in place and I am confident that the Electoral Commission and the voters will see a transparent process in December”.

The U.S. is providing about $4.5 million in assistance for Ghana’s December 7 elections.

Commenting about the Ghanaian political terrain, Mr. Jackson indicated that unlike the U.S., ideological differences are not so clear in Ghana.

“One of the things that I notice about Ghanaian politics is that it somehow, sometimes less clear what the ideologies differences are,” he said.

His observation was in comparative reference to the ideological differences between the two major parties in his country. He said while the Republicans are more conservative, the Democrats are more liberal.

Mr. Jackson has also described this year’s American election as historic.

“You have a Republican candidate with no previous political experience but who was a television personality and who has appeal to a range of very disaffected and conservative voters. On the other side, you have a very much an establishment candidate but our first woman candidate and honestly I have always felt the race will be close, so, the fact that the polls have tighten in recent weeks does not come as a surprise,” Mr Jackson said.

The 58th quadrennial U.S. presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

It will determine the 45th President and 48th Vice President of the United States.

The two main candidates are Donald Trump of the Republican Party and Hillary Clinton of the Democratic Party.