DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE justice because they cannot afford legal representation. Due to a variety of factors, notably poverty, the judicial system in Ghana is inaccessible to the majority of the population. This is most evident among capital as well as other criminal offenders, who generally come from the poverty ranks. The high cost of justice in Ghana is serious cause for concern. CSOs have attempted to alleviate the situation by running legal aid facilities, but these are few and insufficiently funded. 32. The judiciary itself suffers from lack of adequate capacity to administer justice. Availability of office space and courtrooms is a major problem, both at the headquarters in Accra and countrywide. Each year, budgetary allocations have been insufficient to meet the growing infrastructure needs of the judiciary. This affects the easy flow of justice and ultimately compromises the rule of law. Promotion and protection of political rights 33. Several provisions in the 1992 Constitution underscore the democratic rights of Ghanaians, and secure the independence of electoral mechanisms to ensure free and fair electoral processes. The Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) guarantee, promote and protect the fundamental constitutional rights of Ghanaians to participate in political and related activities. The judicial system is designed to protect these rights and offers opportunities for redress by aggrieved persons and groups whose rights are violated or infringed upon. Independent bodies to ensure electoral competition, good governance and accountability 34. Created in 1992, the independence of the EC is constitutionally guaranteed. The EC does, however, suffer from certain deficiencies in institutional capacity that have constrained the effective performance of its functions. These deficiencies include human and material resources, in particular the recruitment and retention of skilled and experienced staff; as well as timely release of budgetary allocations. The Commission also suffers from the general perception that it is partisan and in favour of the incumbent government. To the extent that the perception affects the EC's integrity, its efficiency and effectiveness are undermined. 35. The administration and conducting of free and fair elections, and a civicminded citizenship are central to the democratic processes and the competition for power. The NCCE is constitutionally mandated to create and sustain within the Ghanaian society the awareness of the principles and objectives of the Constitution as the fundamental 23