The Dean of Studies and Research at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Dr Eric Oduro Osae has called for a reform in the appointment of Electoral Commissioner delimiting the president for spearheading the exercise.
Dr Oduro Osae’s comment comes from the controversies surrounding the nominations made by President Akufo-Addo to fill positions in the Electoral Commission (EC).
The office of the President on Monday, July 23, 2018, announced the nomination of four (4) top officials for the EC.
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A press statement, signed and issued by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare said the president had nominated the Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, Jean Adukwei Mensa as Chairperson; Mr. Samuel Tettey as Deputy Chairperson; Dr. Eric Asare Bossman as Deputy Chairperson; and Ms. Adwoa Asuama Abrefa as Member of the Commission.
The nominations became necessary after the removal from office of former EC boss, Charlotte Osei and two of her deputies, Ahmadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku-Amankwah as well as the retirement of Pauline Dadzawa, a member of the commission.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia said his party was shocked with the appointments because they go contrary to the fairness and neutrality that Ghanaians were assured of by the President prior to the nominations.
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“We are shocked because until this appointment the president had given assurance to the nation that the person to be appointed into the Commission would be persons whose integrity and political neutrality would be above board”, the statement read.
The statement also said the NDC will reveal the covert activities of Mrs Jean Mensah for the NPP which makes her unfit to occupy the position of the EC Chair with further and better particulars in due time.
Speaking on Burning Issues Monday, Dr Oduro Osae said Ghana needed to restructure the EC appointment, recounting the polemics that engulfed the nomination of former EC Boss, Mrs Charlotte Osei and currently, Mrs Jane Adukwei Mensah.
He said even though he personally sees nothing wrong with the four nominations, he suggests “the appointment power should be taken from the president for the EC position to be advertised for people to apply and approved by the public”.
He, however, opined that the President has done nothing wrong, legally, in making the appointments.
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“The president hasn’t made any mistake with the appointments because the case involving the removal of the former boss is still in court and has not been ruled”, he said.
Meanwhile, National Chairman of the PNC, Bernard Monarh, also commenting on the issue said with exception to the appointment of Mr Samuel Tettey as Deputy Chairperson, all the remaining nominees are politically affiliated, a situation which undermines the credibility and neutrality they bring to their respective offices.
Mr Monarh has therefore predicted that Mrs Jean Mensah may end up organising only one major election because her appointment is not based on merit, adding that she lacks the tenacity to withstand the pressure that comes with elections in Ghana.