The importance of a National Elections Commission (EC)
cannot be overemphasized as they embody the legitimacy and credibility of the
electoral process, which is directly linked to the integrity of a nation’s
democratic credentials.
Ghana’s EC has successfully conducted seven elections which
have contributed to the stability and economic growth the country currently enjoys
within the sub-region. We have had
electoral disputes in the past, but these were managed/ resolved amicably to
the envy of other African countries and the world at large.
The current in-fighting amongst the EC commissioners does
not bode well for Ghana’s democracy and will dent confidence in their ability
to hold credible elections in the future.
It started with the petition by some “faceless” Electoral Commission
staff against EC Chairperson, Mrs Charlotte Osei, to the office of the President
for her possible impeachment. A copy of this was given to Economic of Organized
Crime Office (EOCO) for investigations into alleged crime(s) she is purported
to have committed.
In the Chairperson’s response to these allegations, she has
made serious allegations of corruption against her two deputies; Mr. Amadu
Sulley - deputy Chairperson for Operations- for collecting 6 million GHC from
political parties for organizing their primaries without following the EC’s due
processes, and Mrs. Georgina Opoku-Agyeman - deputy in charge of Corporate
Services- for entering into and executing a 40 million contract without the
knowledge and authorization of the EC Chairperson among others.
Penplusbytes believes that it is necessary we separate the
alleged financial misappropriation from the issues to do with the Chairpersons
competency and interpersonal relationships and the general institutional and structural
workings of the EC. Was there any money paid to Mr. Sulley either by cash or
cheque into his personal account? If this was the case when did the Chairperson
discover this? Is it the standard procedure for monies to be paid directly to
deputy Commissioners for EC work? Was this allegation reported to any of the
anti-corruption state institutions for proper investigation? Is there any
contract that has been entered into and executed with the sole approval of Mrs.
Opoku-Agyeman? Did she violate any of the EC constitutional provisions by her
act? Why did the Chairperson keep this information till now? What are the laid
down penalties for such misconducts within the constitutional provision? These
are some questions we should consider in unravelling this current situation.
It is evident that this current development can mar the
successes chalked by the Electoral Commission in conducting elections for the
past 25 years. Financial mistrust within the hierarchy of the Commission can
impede the smooth operations of the institution, which was envied across Africa
as highly functional. How these allegations are resolved now would inform
political parties and the general public’s trust of the EC declared results in
the next elections. Penplusbytes, which runs the African Elections Project, believes
that public service workers need to set a benchmark for integrity.
Penplusbytes takes a strong stance against what is happening
now at the EC. Yes, the due process should be followed in investigating and
resolving the issues however, at this stage we are of the opinion that
irreparable damage has been done to the credibility of the current EC chairs.
Regardless of what the process finds and whatever Alternative Dispute
Resolutions (ADR) measures that are used, it is doubtful that the three people,
the EC Chair and her two deputies, will be able to work coherently together in
the future. We therefore recommend that the
EC Chairperson and two deputies do the honorable thing of resigning to save
their reputation and that of the institution. We need to protect the sanctity
of this state institution so as to keep intact the confidence the good people
of Ghana have reposed in the Commission.
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About
Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization driving change
through innovations in three key areas: using new digital technologies to
enable good governance and accountability, new media and innovations, and
driving oversight for effective utilisation of mining, oil and gas revenue and
resources.
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