“The Electoral Commissioner, Madam Jean Mensah, has been criticized for treating the commission as a sole proprietorship enterprise, leveraging its constitutional status as an independent body. While stakeholders such as political parties, civil service organizations, and parliament play an integral role in shaping proposals from the Electoral Commission (EC).
Dr. Richard Fiadomor, the President of the Chamber of Local Government (ChaLog), expressed these concerns on the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Alex Nana Dogbe in Accra.
He believes that the commissioners at the EC headquarters are not proactive in their roles, often presenting proposals without thoughtful consultations, wasting the time of stakeholders and political parties. Dr. Fiadomor criticized Jean Mensah and her team for not learning from past mistakes, particularly in proposing changes during an election year, creating chaotic situations without considering stakeholders’ input.
Dr. Fiadomor suggested that future proposals should undergo a pilot phase, supported by data, to test their efficacy and ensure the sanctity and transparency of elections. He emphasized the need for thorough consultation with stakeholders before presenting proposals.
In addition, Dr. Fiadomor highlighted challenges with the recent district assembly elections, such as problems with the Biometric verification machine and the removal of indelible ink in the December elections without sufficient backing from credible data.
Regarding the proposed change in the date of general elections from December 7 to November, the EC clarified that it would not take effect this year. Deputy EC Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Eric Asare Bossman, mentioned that the required legislation for this change would be presented to Parliament soon.
Dr. Bossman stated, ‘Within the last few months, this is something the Commission is going to trigger.’ The Commission’s proposals, including the consideration of designating election days as national holidays, were presented during the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024.
However, the proposal faced opposition from some Ghanaians, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who argued that any major electoral reforms should take effect from November 2028. Dr. Asare Bossman clarified that the proposed changes were not expected to be implemented during this year’s polls.
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