August 23, 2012
The Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) wishes to caution against subtle attempts to denigrate the integrity of the Electoral Commission. It is a fact that the independence of the Electoral Commission of Ghana is guaranteed by the 1992 constitution.
As the official body in Ghana responsible for all public elections, the Commission has received acclaim for successfully superintending over all elections in the Fourth Republic and especially the close elections of 2008.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has demonstrated that it is a law abiding institution with the integrity to organize and superintend over free, fair and competitive elections, the basis for the representative form of government we have in Ghana.
Yet, our monitoring of pronouncements and comments by political activists during the biometric voter registration, and in the wake of the creation of new districts as well as the concomitant need to create constituencies to ensure proper and fair representation of the people have caused the FGJ to worry.
We must, as a people, refrain from pronouncements that could negatively affect the integrity of our Electoral Commission as well as the system of mechanisms adopted to protect the honesty and viability of the process. Whiles the FGJ respects the rights of citizens to free speech and expression, we are worried that a trend is emerging that seeks to cast doubts on the hard earned reputation and integrity of the Electoral Commission.
Why anyone will be interested in casting doubts about the motives of the Electoral Commission after the same institution has presided over the creation of constituencies and elections based on which different political parties in Ghana have won and lost power, must be of interest to well-meaning Ghanaians and peace activists.
Indeed, one of the greatest dangers to electoral integrity is factional interest or action. We must reject attempts to promote self-interest regardless of the effect on others if we wish to maintain our national peace and stability.
It is the position of the FGJ that the Electoral Commission of Ghana is the only truly independent public institution which has also demonstrated that it is the most patriotic body created by the Fourth Republican Constitution. We must allow the Commission to do its work in the national interest, the only way to ensure peace and stability.
Signed
Dr. Clement A. Apaak
Convener, Forum for Governance and Justice - Ghana
020 011 7620
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