EC appointment: I support calls for constitutional reforms – Ablakwa

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said he supports calls for constitutional amendments regarding appointments done by the President.

This comes after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been accused of appointing politically-exposed persons to the Electoral Commission (EC).

Speaking in an interview, Mr Ablakwa said “Let us spell out everything clearly and bar them from doing these.”

Also, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) said nothing stopped the newly appointed Commissioners to the EC from resigning after they were accused of being politically exposed persons.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, a leading member of CODEO, Rev. Dr Fred Degbey said “We are painfully aware that voluntary and constitutionally grounded revocation of these unfortunate and democratically problematic EC appointments by the President is extremely unlikely.

“However, nothing stops the affected appointees, namely Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani from voluntarily and honourably resigning from the EC.

This will be in the supreme interest of our country’s continued democratic progress, election peace and credibility and indeed overall national interest.”

Leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) including the Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams are accusing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of appointing known activists of NPP to sensitive positions in the country such as the EC.

Mr Kofi Adams stated on March 21 that one of the newly-appointed persons to the EC, Dr Peter Appiahene was a known NPP activist who is a member of the communications team of the party in the Bono Region.

Clearly, there is everything wrong with the persons the president has appointed. The President has appointed known activists of the NPP,” he said.

“President Akufo-Addo has been appointing persons known to be NPP activists, we saw the Bossman Asares and the Jean Mensas.

“Dr Peter Appiahene is known NPP activist in the Bono Region, he is a member of the NPP communications team in the Bono region,” he added.

Mr Akufo-Addo on Monday, March 20 swore in three new members of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC).

The three new members – Dr Peter Appiahene, Madam Salima Ahmed Tijani and Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng – were sworn in at a short ceremony at the Jubilee House.

Their appointment comes 21 months to the next major elections.

The President said “I have always fought for and advocated for a credible electoral process in Ghana.  In emphasizing the importance of the credibility of elections, it must be pointed out that the counting, collation and declaration of results cannot and should not be more important than the sacred God-given right of the citizen casting his or her ballot.

“I have said it before and I will repeat it, elections are about those who cast their vote, not those who count, not those who supervise, not those who transmit and not those who declare. The heart of the democratic process is giving effect to the choices made by those who cast the votes.”