The integrity of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mrs Charlotte Osei and two other commissioners has been bruised following a public brawl among them.
“The way all of them have been so badly exposed I don’t see how they can repair the damage and continue to enjoy the credibility that they so badly need to run such an institution,” Prof. Baffour Agyemang-Duah, a member of the governing board of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Tuesday.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is investigating some top officials of the EC including deputy chairs Mrs. Opoku Amankwaa and Amadu Sulley at the behest of the chairperson of the EC Mrs. Charlotte Osei. Details emanating from the investigations have sullied the image of the electoral body as political watchers call on them to step aside pending the outcome of the probe.
Prof. Agyemang-Duah is pushing for a bi-partisan approach into the issue so that “the outcome of such investigation will raise no question.”
He stressed: “There is no need to continuously denigrate each other in public… it’s necessary to have a comprehensive investigation and that process should be bi-partisan so that the outcome of such investigation will raise no question.”
According to him, the three commissioners “have lost their legitimacy to play any role in the commission and they have exposed themselves so badly to the public that I don’t see how their integrity henceforth can be sustained.
“The commission is key to our democratic process. If the allegations are true all of them have lost their credibility in the eyes of the public.”
Tragedy for Ghana’s democracy
He also noted that the “damaging” public row between the commissioners has dented the image of Ghana’s democracy.
Prof. Agyemang-Duah is alarmed over allegations and counter allegations at the Election Management Body as three commissioners cross swords in leaked statements.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is investigating some top officials of the EC including deputy chairs Mrs. Opoku Amankwaa and Amadu Sulley at the behest of the chairperson of the EC Mrs. Charlotte Osei. Details emanating from the investigations have sullied the image of the electoral body as political watchers call on them to step aside pending the outcome of the probe.
Speaking on the ongoing row, Prof. Agyemang-Duah, stressed the EC as the mainstay of Ghana’s democracy must not be allowed to sink.
“I will describe this as a tragedy for our democratic process,” Prof. Agyemang-Duah told Francis Abban on Tuesday.
Looking at how the allegations hinge on personal attacks, Prof. Agyemang-Duah wondered: “I don’t know whether the damage can be repaired.”
“It’s simply irreparable,” he resolved.
He advised that “we need to stop these officials from their public warfare” because the successes Ghana has chalked over the years as the most successful democracy in Africa when it comes to changing governments “are being badly damaged.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana Integrity Initiative – the local chapter of Transparency – has called on the Presidency to immediately intervene and investigate allegations and counter allegations being flung by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her deputy commissioners to save the deteriorating image of the country’s election management body.
