The Faculty of Social Sciences of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, launched an Online Electoral Dashboard on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the KNUST School of Business Auditorium. This innovative online application aims to provide real-time monitoring, comprehensive visualisation, and sophisticated analytics to enhance strategic decision-making. It also seeks to promote and enhance democratic governance and the legitimacy of an electoral process.
Professor Charles O. Marfo, the Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, unveiled the Online Electoral Dashboard and stated that the app is a crucial contribution from KNUST toward the successful conduct of elections in the country and as a service to the Ghanaian populace. He mentioned that the app is unique in terms of its source, differ from other online dashboards, and pledged support to collaborate and work with the Electoral Commission of Ghana to provide accurate information.
Professor Kabila Abass, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, stated that the Online Electoral Dashboard was produced by Professor Charles O. Marfo, Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Professor Gift Dumedah, Department of Geography and Rural Development; and Professor George Meyiri Bob-Milliar, Department of History and Political Studies. He emphasised that the app would serve as a platform to foster collective engagement on pertinent election-related issues in Ghana, emphasising the need for equity, inclusiveness, openness, justice, and accountability to enhance democratic governance. He, therefore, charged the participants to utilise the app for accurate and reliable information.
Mr. Benjamin Bannor-Bio, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, expressed that those in Academia have decided to contribute to the electoral process. He, therefore, pledged the Commission’s support to ensure that electoral activities and processes are made open and transparent to the public.
Professor Prince Osei-Wusu Adjei, the Head of the Department of Geography and Rural Development, stated that the Online Electoral Dashboard was developed from a geographic information system research base to provide a platform offering up-to-date and real-time electoral data and information to create awareness and support election monitoring and decision-making.
According to him, "the initiative has the potential to promote sustainable democracy at both local and national governance, which are core to our national development. Last year, the team, through geographic information system research and innovation led by Professor Gift Dumedah, produced the Mitrosky App to support road transport navigation, which is still making a significant impact," he noted.
During the demonstration of the Electoral Dashboard, Professor Gift Dumedah provided detailed information about the App. In his presentation, he stated that the online application hosts historical data on Ghana's elections and demographic information, providing capabilities for analytical visualisation and real-time monitoring. He mentioned that one of its key features is real-time monitoring, providing instant updates on voter sentiment and demographic trends. Additionally, the dynamic feature enables campaigns to adapt swiftly to evolving circumstances and capitalise on emerging opportunities. "Central to the Electoral Dashboard's functionality is its sophisticated visualisation capabilities. Through intuitive graphical representations and interactive maps, users can gain deep insights into voter behaviour, regional variations, and campaign performance metrics. This visual interface empowers campaign teams to identify target demographics, prioritise resources effectively, and tailor messaging for maximum impact," he explained.
He added that the app is a one-stop shop for all election information, analytics, and updates. It offers a total dashboard for information and analytics for executive decision-making and performance, providing real-time information on voting activities and allowing users to stay updated on the latest developments.
