Why is it difficult for Ghanaians to trust this Electoral Commission?

When it comes to trust and confidence in an important institution such as our Election Management Body (EMB), i.e. the Electoral Commission (EC), the composition and membership of such body is highly essential. Additionally, appearances and perception are also vital just as much as reality, especially as the reality of one’s impartiality or independence is often practically unprovable. Building and sustaining trust and confidence in an EMB is a delicate business. Because the impartiality or independence of an EMB or any of its officials is often difficult to establish or prove, appearances naturally assume great weight in assessing the independence or impartiality of an EMB or its officials.

In the first place, the manner in which previous officials of our EC were sacked from office by President Akufo-Addo has not done any good to the image of the institution.

Appointment of Politicians to the EC:
The subsequent appointment to the once respected, independent and nonpartisan EC of persons who are known to be partisans or who have a partisan cloud over their heads is inconsistent with the spirit of the Constitution. President Akufo-Addo and his advisors should have known that such appointments have the propensity to undermine cross-party and public trust and confidence in the EC and, thus, pose a danger to our evolving multi-party democracy. The behaviour, posture and uncompromising stance of the chairperson of the EC Jean Mensah and the appointment of Dr. Bossman Asare (Deputy Chair), Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani (who are all known members of the governing New Patriotic Party) as members of the commission have all created doubts in the minds of Ghanaians about the impartiality and objectivity of the current EC.

Disenfranchising People of SALL:
Another shocking event that further created doubts about the EC’s honesty and integrity is the manner in which the EC disenfranchised the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe (SALL) and denied them the opportunity to elect a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area during the 2020 election, it is shocking and appalling, it has dented the already bruised image of the EC.

According to Franklin Cudjoe, the founder of IMANI Africa who is a native of SALL, few days to the 7^th December 2020 elections, the chiefs of SALL who were concerned that they and their people may be disenfranchised by the EC because of some information they were privy to, decided to visit the EC chair Mrs. Jean Mensah for clarification. At the meeting, the EC chair was reported to have assured them that nothing would stop them from electing their MP, and that they should be rest assured and not be concerned.

Then on the eve of the 2020 election i.e. 6^th December, the Jean Mensah led EC issued a statement to the effect that the people of SALL could only vote in the presidential elections but not in the Parliamentary elections. As a result, the people of SALL do not have parliamentary representative since 2020 to date, what a travesty of justice?

How on earth would anyone trust the EC after this apparent lack of honesty and integrity?

Limited registration:
During the 2023 limited registration exercise, the EC shifted from its usual position of conducting the exercise in polling stations. The commission opted to conduct the exercise in its district offices across the country, despite the numerous public outcries. Ghanaians were subjected to torturous experiences of having to travel from far distances to the commission’s district offices.

The Chairperson of the EC Mrs Jean Mensa eventually came out to lie that, Parliament was partly to blame for their inability to expand the exercise because it failed to pass the new Constitutional Instrument, C.I that was presented for approval.

The evidence as explained by National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, suggests that, “Out of that budget, the EC specifically asked for GHS 66, 059,846 as the budget for its continuous registration, and that is the language of the C.I. The EC never needs a new law in order to carry out its mandate as this present registration has demonstrated. The position of the minority has always been that you don’t need a new law to carry out your mandate. What does the existing law say about registration? If you go to C.I. 91, Regulation 2, sub-regulation 1(a) which is on registration centres, speaks of the fact that the EC can conduct registration at its district offices. In sub-regulation 2(2) it says that the EC in designating other registration centres may take certain factors into consideration especially access and convenience.

Disregard for IPAC:
The Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) is a committee of political parties who are stakeholders in our electoral system. They have been meeting and providing advice and suggestions to the EC since its formation. This has led to mutual respect and understanding between the past EC officials and the political parties.

However, in 2021 the chairperson told Ghanaians that IPAC was just an advisory body and that its decisions could not be imposed on the EC. Of course everyone knows that IPAC is an advisory body, but for the chairperson of the EC to say it in such a derogatory manner is unacceptable and demeaning to the members.

These are the reasons why Ghanaians find it difficult to trust the current EC officials. It will be extremely dangerous and suicidal if the NDC trust the current EC officials after all the posturing and lack of honesty, integrity they have exhibited, they have also exhibited gross disrespect to the NDC and all Civil Service Organisations as well as the Peace Council, Christian Council and the Office of the National Chief Imam.

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