Aggrieved CSOs fight EC over denial of accreditation for Observers

Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Ghana have expressed disappointment over what they termed as a “unilateral decision” by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs. Jean Mensa to deny them accreditation to observe the 2024 elections.

The qualified CSOs had applied for accreditation to deploy Observers for the upcoming 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana. Some of the affected CSOs include the CENCOR, Jatikay Centre, HSRCGh and FESF Foundation.

At a joint press conference held in Accra, the Spokesperson for the affected CSOs, Mr. Abid Saani (Executive Director of Jatikay Centre) described it as “rather surprising and worrying” for the EC Chairperson to resort to an arbitrary and dictatorial denial of accreditation to several domestic CSOs that have applied for accreditation to deploy Election Observers to the polling stations in the December 7 elections.

The group indicated that the participation of CSOs in the elections through the deployment of accredited election observers, both domestic and international, had always been a critical tool for assuaging the anxieties of members of the political parties to resort to violence because of a loss of confidence in the credibility of the elections.

“We, the undersigned CSOs, vehemently decry this singular arbitrary act by Mrs. Jean Mensah, someone who was propelled by her Civil Society credentials, as a major fault line that seeks to undermine the credibility of the 2024 elections”.

Mr. Adib Saani and his group emphasized that the conduct of the EC Chairperson was not only a breach of the rights of the affected organizations to participate and contribute to ensuring the free, fair, and credible electoral process, but also raises critical questions about the EC's commitment to an open and democratic election process.

They noted that their organisations had never been denied accreditation by the past EC Chairpersons to deploy election observers to the polling stations since 2008, and therefore did not understand why Mrs. Jean Mensah could act with such an impunity and disrespect to the CSOs.

“What is different this time? What has the EC Chairperson got to hide? What is eating her up? As a credible source within the ECs Her unilateral decision against the views of her peers on the matter really introduces a troubling cloud over the whole electoral process of Ghana and undermines the principles of inclusiveness, fairness and transparency that the EC is mandated to uphold. Under the circumstances, we, the undersigned CSOs, pose the following questions to the EC: ⁠On what grounds is the EC withholding accreditation to the CSOs for the 2024 elections? ⁠Does the EC acknowledge that this move will heighten public skepticism and reduce the credibility of the election process? ⁠What mechanisms, if any, has the EC put in place to assure citizens of a free and fair election in the absence of CSO observers?” the group inquired.

They added that following the complexities of the 2024 general election, especially, the mistrust surrounding the EC’s operation, it is critical for the CSOs and other independent bodies to actively monitor the elections and provide credible and independent assessments of the work of the EC.

The CSOs therefore urged the Electoral Commission to immediately rescind the unilateral decision of Mrs Jean Mensah and grant accreditation to all qualified CSOs that have applied to deploy Observers during the 2024 elections.

Meanwhile, Ghana has less than 25 days to what could be its most consequential elections in recent history. The issues of non-intimidation, transparency, accountability, and credibility of the electoral process have always been major determinants of whether elections in Ghana are free, fair, peaceful and devoid of violence and killings.