Investigate Allegations From The EC Now!!!

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of Transparency International has observed with grave concern the allegations and counter allegations made amongst the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mrs. Charlotte Osei and her two deputies; Alhaji Amadu Sulley, Deputy Chairperson (Operations) and Madam Georgina Opoku Amankwaa, Deputy Chairperson (Corporate Services).

The Commission is responsible for the conduct of elections in Ghana, which is the most important tenet of our democratic dispensation. The most crucial quality required of the Commission in exercising its mandate is a very high level of integrity. It appears the current impasse affects the very core of this nonnegotiable quality and GII wishes to call on the government through the relevant state agencies, to take swift action to ensure that appropriate and thorough investigations are conducted into these matters. This is the only way to halt any further degeneration of the integrity of the Commission and restore public confidence in the organisation.

Though several issues have come to the fore as a result of these allegations that require investigations, GII is specifically calling for thorough investigations into the matters bothering on abuse of office and corruption. Specific mention can be made of the following allegations:

i. The Involvement of the two Deputy Chairpersons of the Commission in procurement irregularities in May 2015 involving $22.3 and $16.4m for the purchase of BVDs

ii. The Deputy Chairperson signing contracts worth over GHS40m without requisite approval and authorization.

iii. The Deputy Chairperson collection of GHC6m (Six million Ghana cedis) from political parties for the conduct of party primaries without recourse to the structures of the Electoral Commission

iv. The illegal vote transfers on the Voter management System by the Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations

Furthermore, GII calls on the office of the President to update Ghanaians on the status of the petition received from the “concerned staff” of the Commission on the Chairperson, Mrs. Charlotte Osei. GII also wish to commend EOCO for commencing investigations into earlier allegations.

Finally, GII wants to appeal to politicians to desist from the politicization of these matters and allow due process to be followed in order not to undermine the importance of the Commission in Ghana’s democratic process.

Signed:
Linda Ofori-Kwafo Executive Director