Election 2024: ‘EC has become a pernicious institution, refuses to do what is written in the law’

Leading civil society figure Kofi Benti, says the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) is gradually becoming a "pernicious institution" that refuses to follow the laws of the country.

In an interview with Accra-based JoyNews, Vice President of IMANI Africa, expressed deep concerns about the increasing arrogance and lawlessness of the EC.

"The current debate is exactly because we have an Electoral Commission which has essentially become a pernicious institution. It refuses to do what is written in the law. It arrogates to itself powers it does not have. It creates an unnecessary cost and stress on this country," said Bentil.

He noted that Ghana has gone through a strained election debate for the past four cycles due to the EC's refusal to properly implement key laws like the compilation of a credible voter register.

"The constitution says, compile and register. And in (sic) Addy, it was made sufficiently clear to the Electoral Commission that your job is to facilitate voting. Your job is not to do things to make people lose their right to vote. It is the other way," Bentil added.

Bentil further expressed worry that the EC continues to defy court rulings and act without regards to the laws and the major political parties.

"We have a judgment against the EC to do things it refuses to do, and then it just goes ahead and does what it wants to do," he said.

He warned that the country could face severe consequences if the EC's growing lawlessness is not curbed.

"God has kept this country from a civil war. The EC is tempting fate and we should score it at the point it refuses to be audited. Nobody knows the extent of its assets," Bentil concluded.

The criticism comes amid demands from the main opposition National Democratic Congress for an independent forensic audit of the voters' register, expressing disappointment with the Electoral Commission's continued disregard for their grievances.

Dubbed 'Enough is Enough', the NDC held demonstrations across all 16 regional capitals on Tuesday, aimed to draw attention to alleged irregularities in the voters' register.

The party claims significant irregularities were found during the recent voter exhibition, including missing names and duplicates.

Despite calls for an audit, the EC has so far refused to conduct one, insisting the issues with the register are being addressed.

However, the opposition party insists that the issue can only be addressed when the voters' register goes through an independent forensic audit by any of the audit firms.