The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has expressed concerns over the allegations made by John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), regarding the neutrality and credibility of the commission under the leadership of Jean Mensa.
During an interview at the London School of Economics and Political Science, the former president criticized the Commission for lacking neutrality and accused them of recruiting individuals with affiliations to the ruling party as returning officers for the upcoming general elections.
In response, the EC issued a statement refuting the allegations made by the NDC presidential candidate. The Commission highlighted that all current commissioners were appointed based on the same constitutional provisions that Mr. Mahama used during his presidency to make appointments, which also faced scrutiny for neutrality.
Furthermore, the EC emphasized that Mr. Mahama has consistently utilized every opportunity to denigrate the Commission, unlike other political leaders who refrained from attacking the election management body based on their reservations.
Mr. Mahama raised concerns about the recruitment process of returning officers for the upcoming polls, questioning the neutrality of individuals being selected by the EC. He suggested that NPP sympathizers were being favored in the appointment process, raising doubts about the fairness of the election.
The former president emphasized the importance of appointing credible and neutral individuals to ensure transparent and fair elections, highlighting the government’s track record of appointing NPP affiliates to the Electoral Commission.
The EC urged for a fair and impartial electoral process and emphasized the importance of respecting the neutrality of the commission to uphold the integrity of the elections.
The statement indicated that all appointments to the Commission are made based on constitutional provisions and should not be a source of undue criticism and denigration.
