Policy think tank, Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) is calling for a full scale investigation into the alleged corrupt and illegal practices at the Electoral Commission (EC).
The call follows the allegations against the EC boss Mrs. Charlotte Osei by some aggrieved workers and the response from the latter.
STRANEK in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Nii Tettey Tetteh said, ‘’We at Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) will like to call on His Excellency the President of Ghana to forward the petition against the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson and her response to the appropriate investigative bodies since they seem to suggest corrupt practices within the Electoral Commission of Ghana.’’
The statement further indicated that they support an endemic corruption within the corridors of the EC hence the need to conduct a full scale investigation into the matter.
‘’From the Chairperson’s response, we see a rather bleak picture of a commission fraught with endemic corruption of which she is trying to cure.
We are therefore of the opinion that both allegations should be investigated thoroughly before the reliefs of the petitioners are considered,’’ the statement said. They have also called for the investigation to be conducted in a manner that will not threaten our national security.
Some staff of the Electoral Commission (EC) have petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to get the chief justice to commence impeachment proceedings against Charlotte Osei, chairperson of the commission.
They are accusing her of abusing her office and engaging in corruption, including the alleged award of contracts running into millions of dollars and moving into a new office building – all without recourse to the commission.
Meanwhile, the detailed response from the EC boss described the allegations as frivolous. She also described her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Goergina Opoku Amankwaa as grossly insubordinate and rude.
Below is the full statement.
Investigate Alleged Corrupt Practices At The Electoral Commission – Stranek
Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) has taken note of the recent happening at Electoral Commission (EC) where there has been 27 allegations against the Chairperson and in return, a 28 point response has also been sighted by her in which Mrs. Osei has denied any acts of fraud and financial malfeasance on her part in her response to the allegations made in the petition to the President Nana Akuffo-Addo to remove her.
We at Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) will like to call on His Excellency the President of Ghana to forward the petition against the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson and her response to the appropriate investigative bodies since they seem to suggest corrupt practices within the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
Having read the 27 allegations made against the EC Chair and her response in a 28 point rebuttal against some members and staff of the Commission, we at Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) are alarmed by the indications of wanton abuse of taxpayer funds under the management of the Electoral Commission.
From the Chairperson’s response, we see a rather bleak picture of a commission fraught with endemic corruption of which she is trying to cure. We are therefore of the opinion that both allegations should be investigated thoroughly before the reliefs of the petitioners are considered.
We are also of the opinion that in order to preserve and protect the independence of the electoral commission and thus preserve the sanctity of our democracy, any incursion by the executive or parliament into resolving issues relating to the internal matters of the Electoral Commission must be done taking into consideration our National Security.
Sincerely, we are optimistic Mrs. Osei will help in cleaning up corruption in her institution hence we advise that she should not be removed at all. Instead her efforts at cleaning up the commission should be encouraged so more people of courage will be able to stand up against the onslaught of systemic corruption.
We are all involved in building our motherland Ghana.
Signed.
Nii Tettey Tetteh
(Executive Director)
+233 249 659 467
24th July, 2017.
ahotoronline.com|Ghana
