New EC appointments are NPP members – John Mahama.

Former President John Dramani Mahama has said the three persons, Dr Peter Appiahene, Madam Salima Ahmed Tijani and Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng, who were recently appointed to the Electoral Commission (EC) by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, belong to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He accused the President of deliberately planting his party members at the EC in order to rig the 2024 general elections in favour of the NPP.

Speaking to supporters of the NDC as part of his campaign to be elected flagbearer of the NDC for the 2024 elections, he said “we want the 2024 general elections to be free and fair, we in NDC won’t rig it and we won’t also allow anyone to rig it.

“If the elections are free and fair the NDC will win by the grace of God.”

He added “The NPP are afraid and so they are placing their party members at the Electoral Commission. If you look at the recent appointments that were made to the EC they are NPP people complete.”

President Akufo-Addo has been accused of appointing politically-exposed persons to the EC.

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said he supports calls for constitutional amendments regarding appointments done by the President.

Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday April 8, Mr Ablakwa said “Let us spell out everything clearly and bar them from doing these.”

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) also said nothing stopped the newly appointed Commissioners to the EC from resigning after they were accused of being politically exposed persons.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, a leading member of CODEO, Rev. Dr Fred Degbey said “We are painfully aware that voluntary and constitutionally grounded revocation of these unfortunate and democratically problematic EC appointments by the President is extremely unlikely.

“However, nothing stops the affected appointees, namely Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani from voluntarily and honourably resigning from the EC.

This will be in the supreme interest of our country’s continued democratic progress, election peace and credibility and indeed overall national interest.”

H.E Akufo-Addo on Monday, March 20 swore in three new members of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC).

They were sworn in at a short ceremony at the Jubilee House.

Their appointment comes 21 months to the next major elections.

The President said “I have always fought for and advocated for a credible electoral process in Ghana. In emphasizing the importance of the credibility of elections, it must be pointed out that the counting, collation and declaration of results cannot and should not be more important than the sacred God-given right of the citizen casting his or her ballot.

“I have said it before and I will repeat it, elections are about those who cast their vote, not those who count, not those who supervise, not those who transmit and not those who declare. The heart of the democratic process is giving effect to the choices made by those who cast the votes.”

By Richard Koomson| mediacentralonline.info |Ghana
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