ACCRA, Ghana, 12th October: President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting the Electoral Commission (EC) in carrying out its constitutional mandate while respecting the institution’s independence.
He said the Commission must be allowed to discharge its responsibilities fairly and impartially to protect the democratic rights of Ghanaians.
President Mahama gave the assurance during the swearing-in of the two Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Joseph Kwaku Asamoah Esq and Emelia Afi Agbenyo, at the Presidency.
He emphasised that the Commission’s responsibility is to the Republic of Ghana and its people, requiring its officials to act without favour towards any political party, candidate or government.
The President stressed that he expected the same standards to apply to all political actors, including himself, his party and his government.
“As President, I expect no preferential treatment from the Electoral Commission for myself, my party, or my government. I expect an institution that applies the same standards to everyone and protects Ghanaians’ right to choose their leaders freely,” he stated.
President Mahama said the authority exercised by the Commission must always be guided by fairness, restraint and fidelity to the law.
He also urged the newly sworn-in officials to make transparency and constructive engagement central to their work by listening to political parties, civil society organisations, the media and citizens.
According to him, credible elections require sustained preparation, well-trained electoral personnel, reliable logistics, accurate records, secure systems and effective resource management.
He called on the Commission to ensure that electoral processes are accessible to all eligible citizens, including persons with disabilities, older people and voters in remote communities.
The President further urged political parties to act responsibly, citizens to reject intimidation and violence, the media to verify information before publishing, and security services to perform their duties professionally and impartially.
He maintained that protecting electoral integrity is a shared national responsibility that requires cooperation among all stakeholders.
President Mahama congratulated the two Deputy Chairpersons on their appointments and urged them to demonstrate competence, fairness and courage in carrying out their duties.
He said the oaths they had taken must guide their decisions throughout their tenure at the Commission.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭