The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) is demanding the immediate resignation of two out of the three newly appointed commissioners to the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC).
President Akufo-Addo on March 20 sworn into office Dr. Peter Appiahene, Haji Salima Ahmed Tijani and Rev. Akua Ofori Boateng urged them to uphold diligence in executing their mandate.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Rev. Dr. Fredrick Degbey, a leading member of the election observer body said their partisan stands will affect the EC’s credibility.
“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,” Rev Degbey stated.
He further indicated that “Dr. Appiahene is a senior lecturer at the University of Energy and Natural Recourse where heads the department of Computer Science and Informatics. We also learn that Dr. Appiahene holds a PHD in Computer Science and an MPhil in Information Technology both from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Since the announcement of his appointment he is a member of the EC, social media posting has revealed that Mr. Appiahene is an activist of the New Patriotic Party in the Bono Region.
“In one social media post in 2021 Dr. Appiahene is featured on an NPP flyer as one of the six prospects for the position of the Bono Regional Minister. The commenter who put out that post states that the Bono region and the NPP party need much more vibrant and energetic leaderships to help to take the region to the desired growth and urged all in the region to rally behind Dr. Appiahene.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
