The ousted Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, would appear before the High Court in Accra on today, Friday, June 16, 2023, regarding the criminal accusations brought against him by government.
Quayson was recently ousted from parliament after the Supreme Court of Ghana ruled that he was ineligible to contest in the 2020 parliamentary election because he failed to renounce his Canadian citizenship in time.
But there is still one case the former MP has to face in court after the Office of the Attorney General accused him of deceiving public officers to acquire state documents.
The State, on February 12, 2022, charged James Gyakye Quayson with five counts; deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration.
Below are details of the charges against Quayson in the criminal suit:
Deceit of public officer, contrary to section 251(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
James Gyakye Quayson on or about the 29th of July 2019 at the Passport Office, Accra with intent to facilitate the obtaining of a Ghanaian passport, deceived the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by making a false statement that you do not have a dual citizenship, a statement which you did not have a good reason to believe to be true at the time of making it.
Forgery of passport or travel certificate, contrary to section 15(1)(b) of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155).
James Gyakye Quayson on or about the 26th of July 2019 at the Passport Office, Accra, made a false statement that you do not have a dual citizenship for the purpose of procuring a passport, a statement you knew to be untrue at the time of making it.
Knowingly making a false statutory declaration, contrary to section 5 of the Statutory Declarations Act, 1971 (Act 389).
James Gyakye Quayson on or about 6th October 2020 at Assin Fosu made a statutory declaration that you do not owe allegiance to any country other than Ghana, a statement which you knew to be false in a material particular at the time of making it.
Perjury, contrary to section 210(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
James Gyakye Quayson on or about 6th October 2020 at Assin Fosu, made a false statement on oath that you do not owe allegiance to any country other than Ghana, a statement you did not have a reason to believe to be true at the time of making it.
False declaration for office, contrary to section 248 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
James Gyakye Quayson on or about 8th October 2020 at the Electoral Commission Office, Accra, knowingly used a declaration that you do not owe allegiance to any country other than Ghana for the purpose of obtaining a public office as a Member of Parliament, a statement you knew to be material for obtaining that office.
TheElectoral Commission (EC) has announced that the District Level Election (DLE) for this year will be held on October 3, 2023.
It, however, said the date for the DLE was subject to change depending on the approval of the proposed new Constitutional Instrument (C.I) by Parliament.
The Deputy Chairman of the EC in-charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, made this known at a forum on the 2023 DLE in Accra yesterday.
Forum
The forum, on the theme “2023 District Level Election:
Aimed at educating stakeholders about the DLE, it also discussed ways to improve voter turnout which has been at an all-time low over the years.
The DLE is to elect assembly and Unit Committee members.
Speaking at the forum, Mr Tettey said the new C.I. which was seeking to make the Ghana Card the sole document for identification for registration was yet to be laid before Parliament.
He said when approved, the new C.I would regulate continuous voter registration in the country.
“If this new C.I. goes through, the commission will undertake the continuous voter registration exercise at the district level,” he said.
Aside from that, he said some internal activities of the commission such as recruitment of staff, logistics and other election administration processes might also be a subject for the change of the date set by the commission for the DLE.
He said unlike the presidential and parliamentary elections, candidates for the DLE were not expected to pay a deposit or filing fee.
He stated that the EC would provide details of electoral processes through a series of public and voter education programmes on the DLE.
Mr. Tettey therefore called on all stakeholders to assist the EC by playing their roles to ensure the delivery of a free, fair and transparent election.
Turnout
A Local Governance Expert, Dr Eric Oduro Osae, called for the politicisation of the DLE to improve the voter turnout of the election.
He said section six of the Local Governance Act 2016(Act 936) as amended by Act 940, provided that DLE should be held every four years with an interval between the DLE and the Presidential and Parliamentary elections being at least six months apart.
He indicated that since 1988, Ghana has had eight successive local level elections to engender greater citizens’ participation in the process.
He said despite the constitutional guarantee of the right to vote, there had been gross apathy among the citizenry in local governance elections leading to low turnout.
“Turnout for DLE have been declining from 59.3 per cent in 1988/89 to 33.6 per cent in 2019 as against a national turnout of 2020 general election of about 78.89 per cent
“Apart from the 59.3 per cent turnout during the PNDC military rule we have never hit the 50 per cent turnout mark since we entered constitutional rule under civilian elected governments from 1993,” he said.
To improve voter turnout for this year’s DLE, Dr Osae recommended, among others, making the DLE election day a holiday or an add on to an existing one, amend article 55(3) and allow political parties to sponsor candidates, intensify sensitisation among citizens about the DLE and develop strategies to improve women and youth participation.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural development, Dan Botwe, in a speech read on his behalf, said the ministry would be working with the media to ensure adequate publicity on the DLE, adding that a National Media Brief would be held in Accra to kick-start the awareness creation.
He expressed the ministry’s commitment to deepen decentralisation and collaboration with stakeholders for a successful election.
The Deputy Executive Director of CLGA, Gillian Naadu Tetteh, for her part, called for an increase in the participation of women in and PWDs by supporting them to contest in the election.
To preserve the sanctity of theElectoral Commission (EC), the commission has issued a cautionary message to political parties, urging them to refrain from undermining its integrity.
He said this highlighting how essential the EC is to political parties in the organisation of internal and nationwide elections.
The Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr. Siribour Quaicoe, issued this warning to political parties speaking in an interview on Accra-based Joy FM’s 6 am news on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
He called on the political parties to desist from impugning the integrity of the EC and rather help build consensus in the country’s electoral processes.
Dr. Quaicoe was reacting to the main oppositionNational Democratic Congress‘s (NDC) claims that the EC was working to favour the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming by-election scheduled for Assin North Constituency in the Central Region on June 27, 2023.
He said this has always been the mode of operation of the political parties especially when in opposition.
He gave the assurance that the EC is made up of people with integrity who will not soil their integrity by favouring a particular political party in an election.
In a related development, the National Communication Officer for the opposition NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, accused the ruling NPP and the EC of plotting to insert the name of an unqualified candidate into the voters’ register for the Assin North constituency.
In a statement, the NDC’s Communication Officer claimed that the ruling party, in collaboration with the EC, plans to transfer and insert Charles Opoku’s name into the voters’ register, even though he is not a registered voter in the Assin North constituency.
He emphasised that the nomination form for the Assin North by-election requires candidates to be registered voters in that constituency.
Regulation 22 of the Public Elections Regulations 2020 (C.I 127) stipulates that voter transfers can only be made for ordinary citizens at least 42 days before a public election.
Gyamfi indicated that the Assin North by-election is less than 42 days away, and no Returning Officer has been appointed yet, so any transfer of voters to the constituency would be unlawful and vehemently opposed by the NDC.
“We are closely monitoring this situation and shall take every legitimate step to ensure that this illegal plot is not carried out by the Electoral Commission and their collaborators in the NPP,” Gyamfi stressed.
The Electoral Commission(EC) has denied allegations made by the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi,about a supposed collusion between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Commission.
The claims suggest an attempt to include the name of an unqualified NPP parliamentary candidate in the Assin North voters’ register.
The EC in a statement categorically denied these claims and asserted that it has not received any such request from the NPP to transfer any person’s vote.
According to the EC, Article 94 of the 1992 Constitution states that a person does not need to be a registered voter in a specific constituency to be eligible to contest an election there. Simply being a Ghanaian, 21 years or older, of sound mind, and a registered voter is sufficient.
However, if a person wishes to contest in a constituency where they do not hail from, they must be ordinarily resident there or have resided there for at least five years out of the previous ten years.
Sammy Gyamfi in a statement on Sunday said: “The National Democratic Congress has become aware of a plot by the ruling New Patriotic Party, acting in cahoots with their collaborators in the Electoral Commission to transfer and insert the name of one Charles Opoku, into the Voters Register of the Assin North constituency. This illegal move is to aid the said Charles Opoku to contest in the NPP Parliamentary primaries to select a candidate for the upcoming Assin North by-election”.
“Our unimpeachable sources have revealed that contrary to the clear requirement on the nomination form for the Assin North by-election, which demands that a candidate in the election must be a registered voter in Assin North, the said Charles Opoku is not a registered voter in the Assin North Constituency”.
But the Electoral Commission insisted that the allegations are baseless and aimed at maligning the integrity of the EC.
The EC emphasized that being a registered voter in a constituency is not a prerequisite for contesting elections there.
It reiterated its commitment to transparency, fairness, and integrity in all its operations. It asserted that the current Commission has been the most transparent and accountable, carrying out its duties in accordance with the Constitution.
The EC further criticized the NDC for continuously making unsubstantiated allegations against state institutions like them, which only serve to weaken and undermine Ghana’s democracy.
The Electoral Commission urged Ghanaians to trust in their ability to conduct credible elections and assured them that they will continue to uphold transparency and deliver fair and impartial electoral processes.
Below is the full statement by the EC
RE: NPP AND THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN A PLOT TO ILLEGALLY INSERT THE NAME OF AN UNQUALIFIED NPP PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE INTO THE ASSIN NORTH VOTERS’ REGISTER
The Electoral Commission’s attention has been drawn to a misleading press statement attributed to the National Communications Officer of the NDC alleging collaboration between the NPP and the EC for the purpose of transferring the vote of one Charles Opoku to the Assin North Constituency to enable him to contest the upcoming by-election in the said constituency.
We wish to state that this is not true.
For the records, the EC has not received any such request from the NPP to transfer the votes of any person. This allegation is false and a figment of the author’s imagination. As usual, it is aimed at maligning the integrity of the Electoral Commission.
Per Article 94 of the 1992 Constitution, a person does not need to be a registered voter in a particular constituency to enable him/ her to contest an election in that constituency.
Per the Constitution, simply hailing from a constituency entitles a person to contest an election in that constituency so long as the person is
A Ghanaian
Twenty-one years and above
Of sound mind
And a registered voter
In the event that a person who wishes to contest in a particular constituency does not hail from that constituency, that person will be eligible to contest if he/she is ordinarily resident in that constituency or has been a resident there for a total period of not less than five years out of the ten years immediately preceding the election for which he/she stands.
We make this point to buttress the fact that a person who hails from a constituency per the Constitution need not be a registered voter in the constituency he /she wishes to contest in. Simply hailing from there is enough.
As such there is no reason to engage in transfers as alleged by the NDC Communications Officer.
It is a well-known fact that the current Commission has been the most transparent and accountable in its operations. The Commission has carried out its mandate in strict consonance with the Constitution.
To date, the NDC has not proved a single allegation they have made against the EC.
The continuous maligning of state institutions such as the EC by the NDC only weakens and undermines our democracy.
The EC will continue to uphold transparency, fairness, and integrity in all its operations. We urge the good people of Ghana to trust us to continue to deliver credible elections.
Some roads within Assin Bereku, the district capital of Assin North, are currently being repaired, a day after the Electoral Commission (EC) scheduled a by-election for June 27 in that constituency.
Several residents of the area believe that the upcoming by-election has provided an opportunity to address the long-standing issue of neglected roads in Assin Bereku.
“We are not surprised that they are constructing the road. We will give thanks to James Gyakye Quayson for giving the sitting government pressure. When Jesus Christ died mankind benefited and that is the same way James Gyakye Quayson has done.
However, residents are raising questions about whether these developmental projects will continue beyond the by-election.
“But the question we want to ask is whether they will still continue with all the developmental projects even after the by-elections. Gyakye Quayson has said it already that he will give the NPP government pressure to do the needful, and so he deserves the needed applause.
“Our roads since 1996 have not been good, and it has not been any better till today. So if they are fixing our town roads it’s because of Gyake Quayson.”
The two main contenders for the NPP, Fredrick Amoah Kyei and Charles Opoku will be submitting their nomination forms today.
The winner of the NPP primary for the constituency will slug it out with James Gyake Quayson of the NDC for the slot to lead the constituency.
The by-election in Assin North was prompted by the Supreme Court’s ruling that led to the removal of the former Member of Parliament, Gyakye Quayson.
The court determined that he was a Canadian citizen when he contested and won the seat in 2020.
As a result, Parliament declared the Assin North seat vacant on Tuesday, May 30.
The upcoming by-election holds significant importance for the constituency and its residents.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has officially scheduled the by-election for the Assin North Constituency in the Central Region to take place on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
This decision follows a unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 17, declaring the election of James Gyakye Quayson, the National Democratic Congress’ Member of Parliament (MP) for that constituency, as unconstitutional.
In a statement signed by EC Chairperson Jean Mensa, it was announced that nominations for candidates would be accepted at the Assin North District Office of the Commission from Monday, June 12, 2023, to Wednesday, June 14, 2023.
The nomination forms can be downloaded from the Commission’s website (www.ec.gov.gh) starting from June 1, 2023.
Alternatively, the statement said, “a prospective candidate may personally deliver or cause to be delivered on his/her behalf by either the proposer or seconder of his/her nomination, the completed nomination forms to the Returning Officer at the Assin North District Office of the Commission, on the dates and times stated above”.
Fees
The statement added that the filing fee for the election is GH¢ 10,000 per candidate.
Additionally, the EC announced that all nomination forms should be delivered in quadruplicate.
“The nomination forms for each candidate shall be witnessed by the signature or mark of two registered voters, as proposer and seconder, and supported by 18 other registered voters in the constituency as assenting to the nominations.
“The nomination forms shall also be endorsed with the candidate’s consent to the nomination.
“A Candidate shall at the time of submitting his/her completed nomination forms, provide the Returning Officer with two copies of a recent post card (bust sized) photograph against a red background, showing his/her full face and ears,” the statement added.
SC’s decision
In its judgment in the case of Michael Ankomah Nimfah vs James Gyakye Quayson, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Attorney-General on May 17, 2023, the apex court ordered Parliament to expunge Mr Quayson’s name as a sitting MP from its records.
The court held that the whole process leading to the election of Mr Quayson– filing of nomination forms, the election itself and swearing-in–were all in violation of Article 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, which bars a person with dual citizenship from contesting as an MP.
It was the considered view of the court that as of the time Mr Quayson filed his nomination forms in October 2020 to contest the Assin North seat, he had not renounced his Canadian citizenship and, therefore, was not qualified per Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution.
In view of that, the court further held that the EC also violated Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution when it permitted Mr Quayson to contest the election.
Parliament
Following the judgment, Parliament wrote to the EC to notify it of the vacancy in the Assin North Constituency.
The Clerk to Parliament, Cyril Kwabena Nsiah, signed the letter dated May 29, 2023, which was addressed to the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa.
The notification, he said, had been necessitated by the judgment of the Supreme Court (SC) dated May 17, 2023.
He, therefore, requested the EC Chairperson to take the appropriate consequential action as required by law.
A supposed internal memo of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC), which indicated the Office of the President, had requested the Curriculum Vitae (CV) of senior officials of the Commission, has been leaked on social media.
In the said memo, which is dated May 29, 2023, the director of human resources at the Commission stated that the CVs were to be submitted via email following a request by the presidency directed at senior management of state agencies.
“This comes to inform you that the Office of the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has requested for the Curriculum Vitae of Senior Management of State Agencies from Director and above.
“You are therefore requested to submit your CV by noon today. May 29 2023 through mailto:ec.hrdirectorate@gmail.com for the attention of the Commission,” parts of the memo reads.
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who shared the Memo on Twitter, said that the action of the presidency is an affront to the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
According to him, the action of the presidency constitutes a violation of the independence of the EC.
“Art 46 says: ‘Except as provided in this Constitution or in any other law not inconsistent with this Constitution, in the performance of its functions, the EC, shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority’.
“So why this Demand Memo by OOP on the EC?” parts of the MP’s tweet which was shared on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, reads.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Okaikoi Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Abdullai Abu Sadiq, popularly known as Baba Sadiq, has raised concerns about the upcoming 2024 general elections, alleging that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) might conive with the Electoral Commission (EC) to steal the election.
According to him, the NDC needs to be vigilant and be on high alert not to fall victim to any potential tactics by the NPP.
The founder of 3 Music Awards pointed to an alleged pink sheet, which circulated on social media prior to the Kumawu by-election, as evidence of the NPP’s intention to steal the 2024 election.
He argued that it served as a warning sign for the NDC.
Speaking in a panel discussion on Onua TV on May 24, 2023, he claimed that the said pink sheet provides clear evidence of the NPP’s intentions to manipulate the electoral process.
“How do you tell us that this is a mistake? It is not a mistake, referring to the viral pictures of the signed pink sheet. This gives us, in particular people in the NDC, a reason to be very vigilant in going into the 2024 elections because this can be one of the tricks that they will be employing,” he said
He emphasized that the NDC could not trust the EC in the upcoming elections, maintaining that there is a need for the NDC to go the extra mile in monitoring the process.
According to him, the NPP’s confidence in claiming they will “break the eight” (referring to winning a third consecutive term) depends on their alleged arrangements with the EC.
“You see as they consistently claim that they will break the eight ‘8’, the confidence in which they use to say such words depends on the kinds of arrangements they have done with the EC.
“We can never ever trust the EC going into the 2024 elections. We cannot, so we need to be able as a party to go the extra mile and ensure that vigilance and monitoring should be there because these are indications that show that they would want to have their way going into the 2024 elections,” he alleged.
Voting at the Bodomase Methodist Polling Station in the Kumawu Constituency experienced a 30-minute interruption due to a clash between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to our correspondent Ibrahim Abubakar, the altercation occurred when NDC supporters demanded the removal of a ballot from the box during the ongoing by-elections.
This request was prompted by a complaint from an elderly woman who claimed that an Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) official assisting her had mistakenly thumb-printed for the NPP instead of the NDC as requested.
To defuse the situation, additional police personnel were deployed to restore calm, as tensions ran high. The EC official, unable to convince the crowd of her actions, was escorted to safety.
Some presiding officers of the EC are allegedly forcing some old folks of Kumawu to vote for the NPP candidates against their wishes when assisting them. This is a video of a lady complaining to Dr Serebuo and some NDC executives of her grandmother being a victim. pic.twitter.com/CRiuo5zio5
Later on, Franklin Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, arrived at the polling station and cautioned the EC’s Presiding Officer to ensure that such incidents did not recur.
“What we have to do is simply to put our clear instruction that we do not want any such thing from happening anymore [and] we’ve told our agents to definitely be vigilant.”
TheElectoral Commission(EC) has deemed a poll notice emerging on social media outlets purporting to be relevant to the upcoming Kumawu by-election false.
The notice, which has been widely shared purported to be an official announcement from the EC has the photos of two independent candidates, wearing kente cloth and the said candidates have the symbol of a bird.
However, the EC in a statement issued on Sunday clarified that no such notice has been issued by their office.
While categorically indicating that the story is untrue, EC urged the public to disregard it.
“For the information of the Public, both Independent Candidates presented photographs of themselves in kente and a picture of a bird as their symbol to our District Officer in Kumawu.
Based on this, a draft Notice of Poll, bearing the photograph of the Independent Candidates with similar names, attires and symbols was prepared and submitted to the Commissionfor approval.
“It was neither approved by the Commission nor gazetted. A notice of poll becomes legal and binding only after it is gazetted. The version circulating on social media was never gazetted. It was a mere draft reflecting the photographs and symbols presented to the District Officer,” parts of the statement read.
The EC further noted that it had to apply the Public Elections Regulations and assign the second independent candidate a hoe as his symbol after he refused to heed advice to change his symbol.
“When this anomaly came to the notice of the Commission, the second Independent Candidate was advised to change his symbol since he was the last to submit his Nomination Form. He refused to do so causing the Commission to apply Regulation 14(1) (b) and (c) of the Public Elections Regulations, 2020, C.I. 127.”
The EC assured the public that they are actively investigating the origin of the fake notice and will take appropriate action against those responsible for its creation and dissemination.
They also reiterated their commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections in Ghana and emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
The Commission further urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious or misleading information related to elections to the appropriate authorities.
As the Kumawu by-election approaches, the EC reassured voters and stakeholders that they are fully prepared to organize a smooth and credible electoral process.
It emphasised their commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring that the will of the people is accurately reflected through legitimate and lawful means.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has declared its readiness to conduct the Kumawu bye-elections.
Ashanti Regional Director of the EC, Benjamin Banobio, said his outfit is ready to conduct the by-election in Kumawu by-election slated for Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
Speaking on Top Story, he said that EC conducted its final training session on Friday adding that barring any unforeseen circumstances the election will come off as scheduled.
Mr Banabio told the host, Evans Mensah, that “EC is very ready for the by-election. All the materials and equipment needed for the election are all in place. Today, we finished with the last training for our operations, so, ballot papers and all other documents are ready.”
The by-election in Kumawu became necessary following the death of the NPP MP, Philip Basoah.
He died at the age of 53 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Following his death, Parliament notified the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct a by-election in the Kumawu Constituency.
In accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Commission (EC) set May 23, 2023, for the election.
The Notice of Poll published by the Electoral Commission ahead of the election indicates that there were four candidates contesting for MP.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim, is the number one on the ballot paper; the National Democratic Congress candidate, Kwasi Amankwa, takes the second spot, while the third and fourth positions are for two independent candidates who bear the same name, Kwaku Duah.
Meanwhile, Mr Banabio says that the security agencies are ready to ensure that the by-election is devoid of any conflict.
“I have met the Regional and District Police Commander, and they have assured us that security will be beefed up. Every polling station will have officers, and apart from that there will be mobile security forces on standby – they are taking intelligence.”
Mr Banabio added that “whenever it is suspected that these places are hotspots, they will provide security for such places. so I can assure you as I have been assured by the commanders that security is well strategised.”
The Electoral Commission (EC) has assured stakeholders of its preparedness to conduct the Kumawu by-election in the Ashanti Region.
In an interview with the Ashanti Regional Director of the EC, Benjamin Bano- Biohlast Wednesday (May 17), he stressed that the EC had made available all the materials needed for the election, with the exception of some ballot papers which were currently being printed and should be ready by today (Friday, May 19, 2023).
Training of trainees
Mr Bano-Bioh said for the past two days, the EC had engaged some returning officers in a workshop to prepare them ahead of the election.
He said beneficiaries of the two-day training programme would also train some key players including Presiding Officers, Name Reference List Officers and Ballot Issuers.
“We are well resourced and prepared for this election. Everything is in order,” he said, adding that the EC was poised to conducting a free and fair election, in ensuring that the wish of the people was realised,” he said.
According to Mr Bano-Bioh, all that political parties and candidates needed to do was to ensure that their representatives at both the voting and the collation centres were knowledgeable enough to appreciate proceedings and the outcome of the election.
Security
“As for the police we are always in touch with them. We have sent them the list of all 75 polling stations and their locations. We have also indicated areas that we think are hotspots,” Bano-Bioh stated.
Notice of Polls
Meanwhile the Notice of Poll published by the Electoral Commission ahead of the May 23 exercise indicated that there were four candidates who were contesting the by-election.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim, is the number one on the ballot paper; the National Democratic Congress candidate, Kwasi Amankwa, takes the second spot while the third and fourth positions are for two independent candidates who bear the same name.
Recall
Parliament, before adjourning sine die for the Easter holidays, notified the EC of the need to conduct a by-election in the Kumawu Constituency following the death of Philip Basoah, the NPP MP for the area.
Mr Basoah, 53, was a Member of the Seventh and Eighth Parliaments of the Fourth Republic.
Director of Legal Affairs of NDC, Abraham Amaliba, has stated that the Electoral Commission of Ghana must be sanctioned for misleading the deposed Assin North Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson.
He said the EC had the responsibility of disqualifying the embattled MP if he did not meet the constitutional requirement to run in the elections, therefore, the EC must be sanctioned for not ensuring this.
He said the failure of the EC to disqualify him gave Gyakye Quayson the impression that all was fine leading to his election and swearing-in as Member of Parliament.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Mr. Amaliba questioned the Supreme Court’s decision not to punish the EC for their ‘complicity’.
“Now in this judgement of the Supreme Court what punishment have they given top the EC? How can you visit the sins of the EC on the Member of Parliament who openly gave out his documents for scrutiny. And I think your question is predicated on that, what does the Supreme Court say about the EC? And I think that is where the discussions are.
“And I think that clearly the EC would have misled him to do what he did. In the example he gave about the passport, when you get to the Kotoka international airport, no plane will pick you. The plane will not allow you to go and sit in the plane and travel, so why did the EC allow him? That’s the question you’re asking. And I think that that is where the miscarriage of justice comes in,” he said.
His comment comes on the back of the Supreme Court ordering Parliament to expunge James Gyakye Quayson’s name from its records as a Member of Parliament.
Presiding Judge Justice Jones Dotse on Wednesday, May 17, ruled that the Electoral Commission (EC) acted unconstitutionally in allowing him to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections without proof of him renouncing his Canadian Citizenship.
The court in a unanimous decision ruled that Mr. Quayson was not qualified at the time of filing his nomination forms.
It further held that the EC allowing him to contest when he had not shown evidence of renunciation of his citizenship of Canada is unconstitutional.
It further declared that his election was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.
His swearing-in was equally declared to be unconstitutional with Parliament ordered to expunge his name from its records.
While the NPP have welcomed the ruling, the NDC say they are baffled by it.
In a statement reacting to the ruling, the Minority stated that the laws of Ghana only prohibit people from performing their functions as members of parliament if they still have dual citizenship.
However, “It is important to place on record that as at the time of his election, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson was not a dual citizen, neither was he a dual citizen as at the time he took the oath of office as a Member of Parliament,” parts of the statement released on Wednesday, read.
The statement signed by Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson added that as a result, they find it baffling that the Supreme Court would order the removal from parliament of Mr Quayson who they say was duly elected as MP.
General Secretary for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey has noted that should the Electoral Commission (EC) be unable to supervise its upcoming Primaries, its Electoral Directorate will take charge of matters.
He made this known on Friday while addressing the press in less than 24 hours to the much awaited Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
“If for any reason the Electoral Commission is unable to be present tomorrow to supervise this election, the Elections Directorate of the NDC will take full charge,” he said.
The Functional Executive Committee of the party on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the party passed this resolution.
The Electoral Commission earlier announced that it would not be supervising the party’s parties due to an injunction application filed by one of the presidential candidates, Dr Kwabena Duffuor.
But on Friday morning, Dr Duffuor withdrew his injunction application. However, few hours later, it was reported that a fresh injunction has been filed by one Edgar Asamoah Boateng but that has also been discontinued.
The EC is yet to comment on the recent happenings so far. The Electoral Commission is mandated to enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections and referendums.
Over 356,000 voters expected to participate in the upcoming primaries which will start from 7am and end at 4pm.
Each voting center has been limited to utmost 1200 delegates. There is a total of 420 voting centers across the country.
275 constituencies will take part in the presidential elections while 259 constituencies partake in the parliamentary elections.
Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, has said that the Commission is yet to receive the National Democratic Congress’ presidential and parliamentary primaries voters database.
According to him, “The agreement was that we should have the registers and the ballot papers at least a week to the elections,” however, the NDC’s executives have failed to do so.
Currently, the scheduled date for the presidential and parliamentary primaries is at risk of being rescheduled following an injunction filed by an NDC presidential aspirant, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, who insists that the voters’ register submitted to his team contains discrepancies.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express,Dr. Serebour Quaicoe noted that till the NDC’s injunction is lifted by the court, the EC will withdraw from offering its services to the party.
He said it was to avoid such situations that the EC had urged the party to submit its voters’ register early for all challenges to be addressed timeously.
“So these things should have been made available a long time ago, because we knew that when such things are done you have people petitioning and the rest so we were thinking that if we had gotten it early enough, they would have addressed any challenges that may come out of it.
“There have been instances where we’ll go for the election and at the venue of the election the register will be brought to you and you may have to be making calls so that whilst you’re doing the election new names will be added and subtracted.
“So these things should be a lesson to the political parties that when they’re going to do anything they should [inaudible] ahead of time so that we will not be having challenges in registers…” he said.
The injunction case will be heard on Friday, a day to the scheduled May 13 election day.
Meanwhile, the NDC in a press statement has urged its party faithful and aspirants to keep calm as the party’s legal team handles the situation.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has announced its decision to withhold its services to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its primaries slated for May 13, 2023.
The EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, made this known today after she met agents of all the three flagbearer hopefuls of the NDC; John Mahama, Dr Duffuor, and Kojo Bonsu.
According to the EC Chair, her outfit will only supervise the upcoming primaries after the current legal issues hovering around the primaries are resolved to prevent being cited for contempt.
“Yesterday we were served with an Application for Interlocutory Injunction seeking to restrain the Commission from supervising the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries due to the alleged anomalies with the register.
Gentlemen, in order that we are not cited for contempt, the Commission has taken the decision not to supervise the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections until after the determination of the case by the court,” the Chairperson of the Commission, Madam Jean Mensa is quoted to have said by JoyNews.
EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa
Dr Kwabena Duffour has filed an interlocutory injunction application against the party’s upcoming primaries.
Dr Duffuor wants the primaries halted over some alleged discrepancies his team has identified in the party’s voters register.
In a writ filed at an Accra High Court, Dr Duffour indicated a partial photo album register given to his team on May 4, 2023, by the party recorded the number of constituencies at 220 as opposed to the alleged number of 228 constituencies currently being indicated.
He stated that verification of the 220 constituencies established basic errors and inaccuracies that render the Photo Album Register inaccurate and unreliable for a free, fair and credible elections.
Ahead of the suit, Dr Duffuor requested for a postponement of the elections until a full photo album register is secured.
Meanwhile, responding to the claims, Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, says the accusations levelled against the party have no basis.
In order to ensure that the results of the general election are accepted by all parties, Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement, Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) – Ghana, has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to foster trust among the political parties.
He said building trust in the electoral processes, extending the time frame for election, planning and increasing public access to key data results were necessary to improve the nation’s democratic governance.
Dr Asante gave the advice during a panel discussion on the 2022 Kenya and 2023 Nigeria general elections and the lessons for Ghana ahead of the 2024 General Election.
It was important for the EC to correct the growing negative perception about the institution, which was not good for the country’s democratic development, he advised.
Dr Asante referred to the numerous legal challenges faced by both the Kenyan and Nigerian electoral management bodies, saying it would be better for Ghana’s EC to ensure the timely conclusion of its legal reforms ahead of the general election.
He explained that whatever the EC needed to do should be done early and clarified so that the stakeholders would understand and appreciate their relevance.
Dr Asante also recommended the reforming of the process of appointment to the EC Board, saying that the current method did not make it transparent and inclusive.
Dr Bright Akwetey, Executive Director, Institute of Democratic Development, Ghana (IDEG), for his part, urged the EC to set a time frame and limit for political parties to campaign for general elections.
In bothKenya and Nigeria, he said, had their electoral management bodies regulating the periods and duration of political campaigns.
Ghana’s lack of such measures were not helping, he noted.
“We are told that in Kenya they do 50 days for election campaign and Nigeria does 150 days, but ours is limitless, which is not helping…. We have been pushing for a long time that we should have a campaign season and our parties should not only be about elections after elections,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the political parties not only to focus on election-related issues but innovate development-oriented policies to benefit the people.
Dr Edward Ampratwum, a representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), advised political parties to commit to dialogue, consensus building and resolving their differences with peaceful means.
They should also work with the people towards creating the desired future.
He said election was one of the major triggers of violence across the globe, having led to democratic reversals and unconstitutional changes in government, especially in Africa.
Mr Mulle Musau, Coordinator, Elections Observation Group, Kenya, stated that Ghana should have clear electoral laws, which must be adhered to by all the political parties -thus learning from both the Kenyan and Nigerian experiences.
He said the various components of the electoral processes, such as voter identification, registration and verification must be transparent and inclusive.
Ms Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programmes Yiaga Africa, Nigeria, emphasised that the EC should not create doubt about the electoral processes so that outcome of the elections would be accepted by all the parties.
A constitutional lawyer and former MP forKumawu, Yaw Baah, has criticized the approach utilized by Parliament to guarantee that the guarantor system becomes one of the ways in which a Ghanaian can register to vote.
He said the legislative body could not compel the Electoral Commission (EC) to include the guarantor system in the Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) for continuous voter registration, which the electoral body sought to lay before the House.
He said Parliament’s suggestion that the EC should include the guarantor system in the C.I. was, at best, a recommendation, which the electoral management body was not bound by any law to follow.
“If Parliament insists that its decision for the EC to include the guarantor system is binding, then the exercise it undertook on March 31 by voting to recommend to the EC to include the guarantor system is unconstitutional.
The recommendation is an opinion by Parliament,” he said.
Mr Baah premised his argument on Article 11(7) of the 1992 Constitution, the constitutional provision on subsidiary legislation, and the Supreme Court decision in Nii Tetteh Opremreh v EC and A-G, which interprets and enforces the said provision.
In that particular case, he said, the Supreme Court — speaking through Justice Sulemana Gbadegbe — distinguished between Article 11(7), which restricts Parliament’s powers with regard to subsidiary legislation, and Article 106(6) of the Constitution which gave Parliament the power to amend any substantive legislation.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Baah — a former Chairman of the Legal, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament — said Parliament, per Article 11(7) of the 1992 Constitution, had the power to only annul subsidiary legislation, including C.I.s.
Recommendation by Parliament in respect of subsidiary legislation, he said, were only persuasive but not binding on the entity sponsoring the legislation.
In line with Article 11(7) of the 1992 Constitution, the EC is seeking to lay a C.I. before Parliament to regulate the continuous voter registration exercise.
Per Article 11(7), the C.I., which seeks, among other things, to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document for the exercise and the only means for registration when laid in Parliament, will come into force after 21 sitting days, except the House annuls it by a vote of not less than two-thirds of all Members of Parliament (MPs).
Mr Baah said in the case of Nii Tetteh Opremreh v EC and A-G, the Supreme Court — in interpreting and enforcing Article 11(7) of the Constitution — held that apart from annulment, other acts by Parliament such as amendment, variation or change in a subsidiary legislation was unconstitutional.
According to him, the insistence by Parliament for the EC to include the guarantor system before the C.I. would be considered not an annulment and, therefore, technically the House had no power to force it down the throat of the EC as that would sin against Article 11(7) of the 1992 Constitution as enforced by the Supreme Court in the case of Nii Tetteh Opremreh v EC and A-G.
“The Supreme Court has ruled that if Parliament does not take advantage of the annulment power under Article 11(7) of the 1992 Constitution, it cannot do any other thing that is binding on the body that presented the subsidiary legislation.
“The Supreme Court was emphatic that when it comes to subsidiary legislation, Parliament is only a conduit through which constitutional bodies vested with power can bring a subsidiary legislation into force,” he said. Pre-laying
As part of the pre-laying process of the C.I., the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulation, 2023, Parliament rejected the EC’s decision to make the Ghana Card the sole means for the registration.
The House unanimously recommended to the EC to include the guarantor system in the C.I. before it could present it for consideration.
Legislators were of the view that unless and until the challenges confronting the issuance of the Ghana Card were dealt with, using the card as the only medium of voter registration would negatively impact the electoral roll and thereby deny some otherwise qualified persons from registering to vote.
The House took the decision after legislators adopted the report of the Committee of the Whole on the draft C.I.
The report was signed by the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who is also the Speaker of Parliament,
Soon after the House had adopted the Committee of the Whole’s report, the Speaker said the House would now not depend on the assurances from the EC or the NIA, but “we are now making inputs into the preparation of the C.I.”. No legal effect
However, Mr Baah, who is also a former Chairman of the Judicial Committee and former Vice-Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament, was of the view that although Parliament had a right to go through a pre-laying process for the C.I., the decision made during the pre-laying process had no legal effect.
In view of that, he said, the report of the Committee of the Whole of the House and its subsequent acceptance by the House for the EC to include the guarantor system was not binding.
“Article 11(7), as interpreted and enforced by the Supreme Court in Nii Tetteh Opremreh v EC and A-G, is the current case law governing subsidiary legislation.
Therefore, whatever exercise undertaken by Parliament in respect of unanimously agreeing for the EC to include the guarantor system was not necessary because it would not have any legal impact.
He also wondered why Parliament unanimously voted to recommend to the EC to include the guarantor system when the C.I. had not been properly laid before the House.
Mr Baah said if Parliament was not happy about the exclusion of the guarantor system from the C.I., the lawful procedure was for the House to allow the EC to lay the C.I. and then annul it by two-thirds majority as stipulated by Article 11(7) of the Constitution and interpreted in Nii Tetteh Opremreh v EC and A-G.
The Council of State has been urged to reconsider its recommendation about the appointment of Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani to the Electoral Commission (EC) by the leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Despite the objections voiced by numerous stakeholders in Ghana’s democracy, President Akufo-Addo nevertheless swore in these two.
Article 70(2) of the 1992 Constitution dictates that such appointments be made in consultation with the Council and the NDC believes the Council has a role to play to get the President reverse the appointments.
In its petition dated Monday, April 17, the NDC argued that these appointments if not reversed will hamper the public confidence in the EC.
“Prior to his appointment to the Electoral Commission, Dr Peter Appiahene had played various roles for the New Patriotic Party in the Bono Region. Indeed, he touts himself in his political profile and personal credentials as a ‘strong NPP man with a lot of experience in election issues in Ghana.’”
“It is our considered view that the appointment of a personality with such overwhelmingly partisan credentials into the Electoral Commission will hamper public confidence in the constitutionally independent body and undermine the conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections in Ghana.”
“On the appointment of Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani, our background search reveals that she has well-known New Patriotic Party leanings. Aside from the fact that Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani is herself an activist of the ruling New Patriotic Party, she is married to one Sheikh T.B. Damba, a former Second National Vice Chairman of the NPP, and Ghana’s immediate past ambassador to Saudi Arabia, from 2017 to 2021,” excerpts of the petition said.
The party stated among his political positions in the NPP as follows: • Member of the 2022 Bono Regional Election Committee of the NPP; • Bono Regional IT Director for Election 2020 for the NPP; • Bono Regional D-Day Coordinator for Election 2020 for the NPP; • Member of the National Research and Data Analysis Team for Election 2020 for the NPP; • Regional Collation Officer for NPP Internal Collation for Election 2020; • Member of the Bono Regional Communication Team of the NPP.
May 23, 2023, has been scheduled for the Kumawu by-election, following the death of the MP for the area, Philip Basoah.
On this day the Electoral Commission will hold a by-election to elect a new member of parliament for Kumawu in the Ashanti Region on May 23.
The EC which made this known in a press statement issued on Monday, April 17, and signed by its chairperson, Mrs Jean Mensa, said the by-election will be co-inducted in accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution. .
“The Electoral Commission wishes to announce for the information of the general public that following the debt of the Member of Parliament for the Kumawu Constituency; Hon. Philip Basoah, the seat of the constituency in Parliament has vacant.”
“In accordance with Article 112 (5) of the constitution as amended, the Electoral Commission will hold a by-election in the constituency on Tuesday, the 23rd of May, 2023.
The Commission in the statement added that it will receive nominations from prospective candidates from May 2 to May 5 at the Sekyere Kumawu District Office of the EC.
“Accordingly, the Commission will receive nominations from prospective candidates for the election of a Member of Parliament for the said constituency.
“The nominations will be received at the Sekyere Kumawu District Office of the Commission from 2nd May to 5th May.
The by-election became necessary following the death of the NPP MP, Philip Basoah.
He died at the age of 53 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Mr Philip Basoah was born on Tuesday, November 18, 1969.
The late Mr Basoah was a member of the sixth and seventh Parliament.
The by-election for theKumawu constituencywill take place on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, according to the Electoral Commission (EC).
The Kumawu seat became vacant following the death of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituencyPhilip Basoah.
The EC revealed in a release that nominations will be received at the Setwere Kumawu District Office of the Commission from 2nd May 2023 to 5th May 2023 between the hours of 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on each day.
Professor Kobby Mensah, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Ghana Business School(UGBS), has urged the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC), security services, and political parties to take action over the recent comments made by the Minister of Food and Agriculture.
Bryan Acheampong, last weekend, mounted a platform at Mpraesoin the Eastern Region to address supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), vowing to ensure that the party does not hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) even if they win the 2024 elections.
He also indicated that the NPP has the “men” to face the NDC if the latter employs violence in seeking to return to power.
Speaking on The Keypoints on TV3/3FM on Saturday, April 15, Prof Kobby Mensah said the comments by the Abetifi MP is a cause for concern.
“For me, I think that the EC must be concerned, the security agencies must be concerned, the political parties must be concerned, which the NDC has actually said they are concerned about,” he said.
Already, the opposition NDC has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to invite the Agriculture Minister for questioning.
The move, spearheaded by the party’s Director of Legal Affairs, Abraham Amaliba, provoked the NPP to also petition the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to probe 2020 Presidential Candidate John Dramani Mahama and National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia for similar comments.
But Prof Kobby Mensah said he was scandalised and, indeed, taken aback about the failure of the NPP to apologise for the comments by one of their own but rather backing them.
“I expected [the NPP] not to give away the Minister but I was expecting them to actually apologise, be remorseful and say that the Minister was carried away [and] we don’t think that this is the appropriate communication and we will have an internal process.
“In the meantime, we express that regret to the Ghanaian people. That would have been a fantastic political communication,” he stressed.
He expressed conviction that Mr Acheampong had been chastised in private by his party but expects a public action too.
For him, this could be a speech act to influence supporters of the NPP in acting untoward on election day.
A seventeen-member executive board has been established by the Ghana United Nations Association (GUNA), a civil society non-governmental organization, to help manage Association operations throughout the course of the next four years.
The new executive-body was elected at its 44th annual congress in an election which was supervised by officials from the La Dadekotopon Electoral Commission(EC).
This year’s congress was on the theme: Partnership for Development
The newly elected executive body encompasses a secretariat staff which includes; Ambassador Nathan Rudolf as Secretary-General, Selaasie Lhal Hiadzi (Director of Administration), Anthony Amankwah (Director of Programmes), Nasir Abdalla Kassim (Director of International Affairs) and Bishop John Kwaku Asante (Director of Protocol).
Also the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Association are Rev Chris Pardie (National President) Dr. Samuel Kodzo Senyoh, Vice President and Meriga Antaru (2nd Vice President).
The rest are Charles Nkrumah (National Organising Secretary), Mary Pokua Yankey (National Treasurer/Financial Secretary), Francis Ntijah (Secretary for Peace and Security), Razak Timbilla (Secretary for Governmental Affairs), and Reverend Fred Anyasor-Nartey (Secretary for Media and Publicity).
Others include, Ambassador Samuel Bamidele Temitope Ojo, (National President for Youth Affairs) and Albert Forson (Secretary for Research and Education).
Meanwhile, Monika Elizabeth Anderson, Judith Donkor, Vitus Azeem, Alhaji Faisal Youssif, Emmanuel Zonyrah and Alhaji Adams also took up the role of Board of Directors.
Addressing members of the Association, National President of GUNA, Reverend Chris Pardie, revealed that the Association in the coming days will step up its presence in second circle institutions, deepen bilateral relations with its international partners as well as take stance on salient national issues affecting Ghana in a non-partisan manner.
He expressed optimism that the new executive will work effectively and efficiently to ensure the full realization of its mission and vision.
He added that an action planned will also be well coordinated to ensure that the Association is well structured in all 16 various regions across the country.
About GUNA
Ghana United Nations Association, GUNA, is an ally association of the United Nations Organization which plays civil roles focusing extensively on helping to achieve improved and sustainable development within the ambit of the 17 MDGs.
As part of the formalization process, GUNA annuls the existing membership card by issuing a uniquely new membership card to members as well as instituting a more involving and comprehensive process of admitting fresh members.
The new Electoral Commission‘s Constitutional Instrument (CI) which intends to make the Ghana Card the only document for continuous voter registration in the country has been rejected by Parliament.
The House has rejected the move by the Electoral Commission (EC) to make the Ghana Card the only document for continuous voter registration in the country.
Parliament has also maintained that the guarantor system which is a means of getting an eligible voter with the required document registered must also be maintained.
A report of the Committee of the Whole also objected the EC’s move to limit continuous registration exercises to the regional, district capitals and offices determined by the commission.
One of life’s most humbling moments, according to a recently inducted member of the Electoral Commission (EC), was when she went through a divorce and realized how important it was to focus on her relationship with God.
Rev. Akua Ofori Boateng is also the first Female Programme Director of the Anglican Diocese.
Speaking on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning, she indicated that even though she used to go to church growing up, she was never deeply involved in church activities and the things of God.
“Actually what brought me to the place of really paying attention to God was that I went through a divorce. I used to be a regular church goer, I drive my mother to church, hang out outside, when it’s time for communion, I go inside and take communion, come back outside,” she said.
“I didn’t belong to Scriptural Union (SU), I wasn’t a server, I was nothing, I remember when I went to seminary and we were introducing ourselves, everybody was a youth pastor, you know people were in the church, me I’m a member of my church, I pay dues and that’s it.”
Rev. Ofori Boateng explained that she was very fortunate to have relatively comfortable parents who took care of her very well and caused her to have a smooth life until things started to take a turn.
According to her, going through a divorce, becoming a single parent and even losing her job along the way made her feel as if her life had hit a wall.
“But it just brought me to a point of asking myself, what am I doing? I lived a pretty comfortable life, I went to GIS, went to university, got a job, you know everything followed for me so this was new like whoa, my life is supposed to go well so that really brought me to what people term as “a come to Jesus moment” where you’re really asking yourself, where do we go from here,”
“But I think that’s how God works with us, in that he brings us to a full stop, where I literally hit a wall, went through a divorce, lost my job, everything went bad,” she said on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
The Anglican Priest also said that when the time is right and if it pleases God, she would give love another chance.
Rev. Akua Ofori Boateng is one of the three members of the Electoral Commission sworn into office by President Akufo-Addo. The other two are Dr. Peter Appiahene and Salima Ahmed Tijani.
The Induction took place on Monday, March 20, 2023 at the Jubilee House.
A member of parliament for the Buem Constituency, Kofi Adams, has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo of selecting an electoral commissioner who is a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to a 3newsonline story, he asserts that Dr. Peter Appiahene, one of the recently selected members of the EC, is a well-known NPP activist and a part of the party’s Bono Region media team.
“Dr Peter Appiahene is known NPP activist in the Bono Region, he is a member of the NPP communications team in the Bono region…clearly, there is everything wrong with the persons the president has appointed. The President has appointed known activists of the NPP.
“President Akufo-Addo has been appointing persons known to be NPP activists, we saw the Bossman Asares and the Jean Mensas,” he said.
Speaking in an interview with TV3 on March 22, 2023, he further criticized the Council of State members for also giving the president the go-ahead for the said appointment.
“The Council of State who are supposed to be advising the president gave the go-ahead to make such an appointment. I am not just disappointed in the president but also the Council of State, they gave the go-ahead.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently swore in three new members of the Electoral Commission (EC).
The three are Dr. Peter Appiahene, Madam Salima Ahmed Tijani, and Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng.
They took office at a short Jubilee House ceremony on Monday, March 20, 2023.
The appointments have, however, seen some criticisms by some factions in the public with members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) accusing President Akufo-Addo of packing the commission with members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Akufo-Addo appoints NPP man, two others as EC commissioners
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday (March 20) swore in three new Electoral Commissioners at the Jubilee House in a brief ceremony.
The three were: Dr. Peter Appiahene, Salima Ahmed Tijani and Rev Akua Ofori Boateng.
Out of the three, the appointment of Dr. Appiahene in particular has drawn a lot of political controversy.
This is because of his known role as a patron of the New Patriotic Party’s tertiary institutions wing, TESCON, specifically the University of Energy and Natural Resources branch.
Some Civil Society Organizations including the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, have expressed misgivings over the appointment of Dr. Appiahene calling on the president to withdraw his appointment.
In his comments on the appointment, Bright Simons of Imani Ghana tweeted: “Seeing how Ghana’s Electoral Commission is always on the defensive about being totally independent & professional, I expect the top bosses to inform the Prez that they’d rather resign than work with partisan activists as that’ll sully the EC’s reputation!”
President Akufo-Addo has tasked the Election Commission (EC) to ensure that election 2024 is free, credible, and fair.
According to him, a fair election will strengthen Ghana’s democratic credentials.
“It is no secret that I have spent most of my adult life trying to fight for the establishment of democracy and human rights in this country and I have always fought and advocated for credible elections in Ghana. In emphasizing the importance of the credibility of elections, it must be pointed out that the counting, collation and declaration of the results, cannot and should not be more important than the sacred God-given rights of the citizen casting his or her ballot.”
Nana Akufo-Addo made this statement at the swearing-in of two EC Board members at theJubilee House.
The President further charged that the electoral management body should not be intimidated by pressure from political parties.
According to the President, criticisms are part of the country’s democracy and cannot be dismissed.
He asked the electoral management body to focus its efforts on the expectation of Ghanaians.
“Remember that now and ever, every single decision you take will be scrutinized to the letter.” That, however, should not scare you, and let no one try to coerce you into submission. On the contrary, let this expectation of the Ghanaian people spur you on to great heights, and above all, work to ensure that the will of the Ghanaian people is upheld.”
President Akufo-Addo swore in three new members of the Electoral Commission (EC) at the Jubilee House.
The newly inducted EC officials, namely, Dr Peter Appiahene, Salima Ahmed Tijani, and Rev. Akua Ofori Boateng, were inducted into office on Monday, March 20.
The President, however, urged them to uphold diligence in executing their mandate.
Following the swearing-in, Dr. Appiahene, speaking on behalf of the members, declared that they were prepared to deliver and strengthen Ghana’s democracy.
“We are, therefore, aware of the massive responsibilities and tasks that come with it.
“We want to state that we are poised and more prepared to deliver and contribute to the development of our democracy, especially in this digital era.” he said
A former chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has questioned the commission’s decision to abandon the guarantor system for the ongoing voter registration process.
He stated that the EC’s assertion that the guarantor system was ineffective and the Ghana Card should be the exclusive method of registration was unpersuasive.
According to Dr Afari-Gyan, as far as the National Identification Authority (NIA) allowed the guarantor regime in the registration for the Ghana Card, nothing prevented the EC from doing the same for the voter registration exercise and making that system more robust as it wanted it.
“What prevents the commission from instituting, in the upcoming constitutional instrument (CI), a guarantor regime as robust as or even more robust than the one being used by the NIA for doing the Ghana Card?” he queried.
Guarantor system
In line with Article 11 (7) of the 1992 Constitution, the EC is seeking to lay a CI before Parliament to regulate the continuous voter registration exercise.
Per the article, the CI, which seeks, among other things, to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document for the exercise and the only means for registration, when laid in Parliament, will come into force after 21 sitting days, except the house annuls it by a vote of not less than two-thirds of all Members of Parliament (MPs).
Last month, the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Adukwei Mensa, told Parliament, as part of the pre-laying of the CI, that the Ghana Card as the sole registration document would ensure that only eligible Ghanaians registered as voters.
Such a move, she said, would give the country a credible voter roll and enhance its electoral process.
The EC boss said her outfit jettisoned the guarantor system because it was susceptible to abuse, which affected the credibility of the electoral roll.
“The challenges with the guarantor system are that it opens the door for registered voters or guarantor contractors to guarantee/vouch for persons who are less than 18 years and it allows the guarantors to vouch for foreigners. Such unqualified persons used the door of the guarantor system to try to get onto the register.
“Truth be told, the guarantor system was not the best under any circumstances, but we did not have other options, since a significant number of people did not possess the Ghana Card at the time. Even, then, we had 10 million Ghanaians using the Ghana Card to back their citizenship at the time of registration,” she said.
Criticisms
Dr Afari-Gyan is not the only person to criticise the EC over the proposed CI.
The CI has faced a backlash from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), a civil society organisation, especially concerning the decision by the EC to throw away the guarantor system, which hitherto allowed a registered voter to vouch for the citizenship of another person seeking to register.
The NDC has described the CI as “obnoxious and a threat to the country’s democracy” and directed its MPs not to absent themselves from Parliament to enhance the fight against the proposed law.
For the CDD, the elimination of the guarantor system would make it very difficult for many Ghanaians to register and that would, ultimately, infringe on their constitutional right to vote.
“The current CI 126 allows for a guarantor to guarantee for up to five people; this can be reduced to three,” it said.
Citizenship
Dr Afari-Gyan, who is the longest-serving Chairperson in the history of the EC, further reiterated his criticism of the use of the Ghana Card as the sole source document for the registration exercise.
In a previous statement to the Daily Graphic in August last year, he had said making the Ghana Card the sole identification document would disenfranchise millions of qualified Ghanaians and as such the move by the EC was against electoral inclusivity, fairness and justice.
In his new critique, he said he was not against the use of the Ghana Card and did not also disagree with the EC that the Ghana Card was of great importance and would go a long way to sanitise the electoral roll
“I think that it is grossly unfair and misleading to try to create the impression that the debate over whether or not, as of now, the Ghana Card should be the only basis for a Ghanaian citizen to be registered as a voter revolves wholly around how useful the card is. I have not heard anybody saying that the Ghana Card is not a good thing to have or use,” he said.
According to him, his disagreement was because the EC was gradually making the Ghana Card the only means of citizenship, which is the criterion for one to register as a voter.
It was his contention that the Ghana Card did not bestow citizenship on anyone but rather validated that citizenship; therefore, making the Ghana Card the sole means of registration meant the EC was trying to define those without the card as not citizens of Ghana eligible to vote.
“In my view, as of now, it cannot be reasonably assumed that every Ghanaian of voting age has the Ghana Card, or can get one well ahead of the next elections,” he said.
“In fact, given that even under continuous registration there is a cut-off period, during which time one can register as a voter but cannot vote in the following election, I think it is far too early yet to make a fetish of Ghana Card as the only basis for registering a Ghanaian citizen as a voter,” Dr Afari-Gyan averred.
Women are the most criticized species in the world, according to Charlotte Osei, the former chairperson of the Election Commission (EC).
Speaking to the media she added that women have been socialized to criticize one another and that she is pushing women to push through all the boundaries.
“Women need courage because they are the most judged species. We have been socialized to judge each other even more. You are so judgmental that you are unable to compliment another woman.”
“Women are most labelled and defined. Women need the courage to move past all these labels and limits and definitions and to do anything significant in their lives”
Women of Valour which was created by Nana Aba Anamoah is a project aimed at bringing together strong, courageous women to share their stories of triumph, loss and everything in between.
The event which came off on March 7, 2023, saw actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, former Electoral Commission bossCharlotte Osei, Ghanaian entrepreneur Eugenia Baffour Bankoh, Business executive and communication professional, Obuobia Darko-Opoku and others tell their stories under the theme “Untold stories of courage”
Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong has expressed surprise at a proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) seeking to make the Ghana Card the sole Identification document for registration of new voters.
The CI, proposed by the Electoral Commission is currently before Parliament with strong opposition from the Minority Caucus with strong support from the other side.
Agyapong, who is particularly concerned with the decision to strike out the passport as a proof of citizenship, made his views known on the matter in an interview he granted Sompa FM in Kumasi late last week.
“For Americans, even Ghanaians who have naturalized, they are so proud to hold an American passport. Ghana has people taking bogus decisions and I wonder those who sit there and take such decisions.
“That a whole Ghana passport, you claim that to register to vote, we won’t allow use of the Ghana passport, we have lost our identity to National Identification, what?” he lamented.
He reiterated his strict opposition to the CI asking, “what makes me know I am a Ghanaian? It is my passport.”
He also rejected the EC’s explanation that a lot of non-Ghanaians are holding the Ghanaian passport, “same is the case with these Ghana Cards,” he challenged.
The CI aims to amend the current law to make Ghana Card, the sole proof of identification for registration of new voters, removing the existing options of the use of passports and the guarantor system.
Kennedy Agyapong, a representative for Assin Central, expressed surprise at a proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) that would make the Ghana Card the only form of identification accepted for new voter registration.
The Minority Caucus has voiced strong opposition to the Electoral Commission’s proposed CI, while the other side has voiced strong support.
In an interview he gave to Sompa FM in Kumasi late last week, Agyapong expressed his concerns about the decision to eliminate the passport as proof of citizenship in particular.
“For Americans, even Ghanaians who have naturalized, they are so proud to hold an American passport. Ghana has people taking bogus decisions and I wonder those who sit there and take such decisions.
“That a whole Ghana passport, you claim that to register to vote, we won’t allow use of the Ghana passport, we have lost our identity to National Identification, what?” he lamented.
He reiterated his strict opposition to the CI asking, “what makes me know I am a Ghanaian? It is my passport.”
He also rejected the EC’s explanation that a lot of non-Ghanaians are holding the Ghanaian passport, “same is the case with these Ghana Cards,” he challenged.
The CI aims to amend the current law to makeGhana Card, the sole proof of identification for registration of new voters, removing the existing options of the use of passports and the guarantor system.
The proposed Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana for the 2024 elections, is merely intended to rig the polls, according to the National Communication Officer of the running National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Speaking in an interview on Good Morning Ghana, on Thursday, which was monitored by GhanaWeb, Sammy Gyamfi said that the new C.I. seeks to frustrate the process of the registration of new voters so that not all eligible voters will be captured.
“I have taken the time to go through the new C.I. which the EC is seeking to lay before Parliament in very, very good details and when I was done it was very clear to me that the real intention behind this new C.I. is to rig the 2024 elections.
“This new C.I. is the 1st step in the plot by the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission to rig the 2024 elections. It is as simple as that. The issues are not complex to understand at all and any objective well-meaning Ghanaian who studies this new C.I. will come to this inevitable conclusion.
“The newly proposed C.I. seeks to achieve two things, Number one is to suppress and disenfranchise many eligible voters and number two is the newly proposed C.I. seeks to enable the rigging of the election through fraudulent registrations that political parties cannot check,” he said.
Sammy Gyamfi shreds newly proposed C.I on Voters’ registration and exposes Jean Mensah plot or rig the 2024 elections. pic.twitter.com/IlOT0uStrE
Sammy Gyamfi explained that C.I. will “suppress and disenfranchise” eligible voters by the move to make the Ghana Card the only document acceptable for the registration of new voters.
He said that the proposal to use only regional and district offices of the EC for voter registration is an attempt to make the process less transparent which gives the EC the leeway to manipulate the data as it pleases.
He added that after the registration EC will choose the registration centres for voters which will be an illegality and will allow it to influence the elections.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Mensa, has called on Members of Parliament to support the new CI, which seeks to make the Ghana Card the main source of identification for registering new voters.
She says this is very important due to the evolving electoral process.
“Honourable members, it is in this vein that we urge you to support the decision of the EC to rely on the Ghana card as the main source of identification for those who wish to register as voters. Our country has evolved; it is important that our electoral process evolve to meet the exigencies of time,” she said.
Jean Mensa was speaking during her appearance in Parliament to brief the committee of the whole on the controversial proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) seeking to make the Ghana Card the only identification document to be used to guarantee citizenship if passed.
A private Lawyer, Martin Kpebu, has argued that the Electoral Commission (EC) should retain the guarantor system for voter registration.
He said a system that is not broken should not be fixed.
“Let’s not fix something that’s not broken. We have been using this guarantor system for voter registration for decades,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, March 4.
Bawku Central Member of Parliament Mahama Ayariga also said he does not understand the argument of the EC regarding the Constitutional Instrument(CI) that is seeking to use the Ghana Card as the sole identity document for voter registration.
Mr Ayariga says the guarantor system in voter registration should be maintained.
“The electoral commissioner is saying the main issue is the guarantor system. The clear fact that they detected minor persons and deleted them means the system works so there’s no threat to the voter’s register,” he also said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, March 4.
He added “I expect that you will have a very meticulous view of your own work. I don’t understand this argument about the guarantor system.”
The Chair of the EC Jean Mensa earlier this week stated that the Ghana Card will not be used to vote in the 2024 general elections but for the voter registration exercise.
Briefing Parliament on the proposed CI that is seeking to make the Ghana Card the sole identification document for voter registration, on Tuesday, February 28 Madam Jean Mensa said the use of Ghana will ensure the credibility and integrity of the voter register.
“It is important to rehash that the use of the Ghana Card as the sole document of identification will ensure and guarantee the credibility and integrity of our register and elections, it will prevent the enrolment of minors to register, it will prevent foreigners from being registered to vote and it will eliminate the guarantor system which is prone to abuse and which promotes conflicts and violence.”
“The Ghana Card will not be used for voting in 2024, it will be used to register,” she added.
The new Constitutional Instrument (CI) proposed by the Electoral Commission (EC) won’t deprive Ghanaians of their right to vote in the general elections of 2024, according to the majority in parliament.
The EC with its new C.I is seeking to use the Ghana Card as the source document for registration onto the voters register.
Addressing the media, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsustated that the new policy aims at sanitising the electoral process.
“This is a system that has come to sanitise and purify our system. There are various institutions which recognise the integrity of the National Identification Authority and indeed the Ghana Cards and have resorted to the use of the Ghana Cards,” he said.
The EC is proposing a new constitutional instrument through which it intends to make the Ghana card the sole identification document for voter registration.
The Minority, which is rejecting this move by the EC, is also casting doubts on the capacity of the NIA to issue Ghana cards to all applicants who have registered for the cards.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticized the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for resisting the new Constitutional Instrument (CI) proposed by the Election Commission (EC).
The NDC is kicking against the EC’s proposed CI through which it intends to make the Ghana card the sole identification document for voter registration.
They have argued that the new CI if passed will disenfranchise majority of Ghanaians from registering for voter cards.
In an interview with Bernard Avle on the Point of View, the Director of Research and Electionsof the NPP, Evans Nimako expressed concerns over the NDC’s penchant for challenging measures aimed at sanitising the country’s electoral system.
Mr. Nimako said he cannot fathom the fears of the NDC if the CI is passed by Parliament.
“My little worry about the NDC is that anytime there are any arrangements that seek to sanitise the registration exercise of the EC, they tend to disagree. We saw this when the new EC decided to put in place the new voter registration management system. They disagreed to the extent that they went to court and they failed.
“I’m not saying they shouldn’t challenge or bring alternatives. We have on a number of occasions disagreed with the EC. I don’t see their fears, but the question is, what does the NDC stands to lose if the EC at this point decides that we want to have a CI that will take away this whole issue about the guarantor system that gives us so much trouble,” he said on the Point of View.
The NPP’s Director of Research and Elections advised the NDC to return to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) in order to have extensive discussions with the other political parties on the way forward.
“The NDC should eat their humble pie and come to IPAC so that we can have a discussion there so that we will not take this whole long time to discuss this issue,” he encouraged.
Mr. Nimako called on Ghanaians especially politicians to support the EC to deliver on its mandate.
“I think that the EC’s arrangements to have a CI that will allow only those who will want to have their names onto the register to use the Ghana cards must be supported by all,” he urged.
Dr Kwabena Duffuor has promised to install a real-time vote compilation system for the National Democratic Congress in the 2024 elections so the party can monitor the results as they trickle in instantly.
The former Bank of Ghana Governor, who is one of four flag bearer aspirants of the NDC, told journalists during his presidential declaration event that he intends to change the party’s vote-monitoring and results-compilation system during general elections.
Asked how he plans to do that, the former finance minister said: “Real-time”.
“You know real time?” he asked his questioners, explaining: “As you vote, we’ve a system that’ll pick it”.
In December last year, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the then-general secretary of the party, who was aspiring to the national chair slot at the time, revealed to some party delegates in the Ashanti Region during his campaign for the internal polls that the biggest opposition party was unable to collate results in the 2020 polls because an IT system installed by the Chairman at the time, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who lost his re-election bid, crashed after just five regional results were entered into it for processing.
In a leaked audiotape, Mr Nketia is heard telling his audience: “I totally understand if anyone says I’m partly to blame for the collation fiasco because all those people undertaking the process were reporting to me but the bit of it is that there were people tasked to do that job”.
He continued: “Mr Ofosu-Ampofo’s so-called ‘robust’ and ‘strong’ IT system he had installed for the collation of results crashed after just five regional results were entered into it for processing”.
“So, that is the truth of the matter”, Mr Nketia noted.
Following the mishap, Mr Nketia said: “We then decided to manually collate the pink sheets”.
Again, he said “the Chairman took over the whole process and brought in some university students to put some documents together”.
However, he recalled: “When it was time for me to mount the dock, it was clear the results they gave me to back our case in court would have brought me nothing but shame and disgrace”.
“We could not have gone to court with those documents as evidence”, he asserted.
“We then carried those same documents to Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, the lawyer, for perusal.
After studying the documents, he called us the following day to say if that was the evidence we were taking to court then he wouldn’t be part of the case and suggested we find a different lawyer to represent the party in court since there was no way he was going to be part of it”, Mr Nketia recounted.
“That is why I told the court we didn’t bring any results when I was asked to produce the evidence”, Mr Nketia explained to his audience.
The Supreme Court, eventually, threw out the petition and upheld the results declared by Electoral Commission Chair Jean Mensa.
Mr Nketia promised that should he become the next chairman of the NDC, “I intend to make sure this collation fiasco never happens again”.
Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa, has confirmed that theGhana Card will not be used as a voter ID in the upcoming December 2024 election.
Her statement comes in response to speculation, particularly from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that the Commission planned to use the Ghana Card for the elections.
“The Ghana Card will not be used for voting in 2024; it will be used to register,” she emphasised.
Mensa made the assertion while responding to questions on the floor of Parliament on February 28, 2023. She had been summoned by the Speaker to appear before the House to discuss the proposed Constitutional Instrument (C.I) that seeks to make the Ghana Card the sole document for registration in the Continuous Voters Registration exercise.
Justifying the draft CI, Mensa said it aims to “promote the continuous registration of voters and advocate for an all-year-round registration of eligible voters at the district offices of the Electoral Commission.”
She further explained that this is a departure from the previous system, where the Voters Registration was done for a limited period.
“Under [the old system], registration of new voters was only conducted for a limited period and not all year round.
As such, persons who turned 18 years old after the registration period, as well as persons who had not previously registered to vote, could not do so when the time set aside for registration elapsed,” she argued.
She noted that under the new C.I, anyone who is eligible to vote can simply walk into any of the EC district offices and register. “Potential voters can register at any time of the year once the exercise begins,” she stressed.
Another significant feature of this draft constitutional instrument, according to the EC, is the proposal to adopt the Ghana Card as the sole source of identification for any person who wishes to register to vote.
Mensa clarified that the guarantor system, which is fraught with various challenges, will no longer be used in the registration exercise.
“The use of only Ghana Card will ensure and guarantee the credibility of the register and elections, prevent enrolment of minors, prevent foreigners from voting, and eliminate the guarantor system, which is prone to abuse,” she emphasized.
“This will reduce the usual pressure at registration centers, thereby reducing the likelihood of conflicts whatsoever. It will prevent minors and foreigners from voting and will take away the guarantor system,” she added.
The draft constitutional instrument, entitled Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2021, has received mixed reactions.
While some, particularly the Minority in Parliament, have vehemently contested it, the EC stands by it as the best option for the country, particularly the part that intends to make the Ghana Card the only form of identification for eligible voters who want to register to vote on the national register.
Also, with the assurance given by the National Identification Authority to the effect that all outstanding Ghana cards will be cleared by August, she is optimistic that there will be no or less challenges with the exercise.
Parliament is expected to engage the Electoral Commission (EC), Finance Minister and the National Identification Authority (NIA).
Jean Mensa and Ken Atafuah for the EC and NIA, respectively, are to answer to the House over the voter registration law.
Mr Ofori-Atta is also expected to brief the House on the same matter.
Parliament last Thursday held a heated pre-laying debate on the report of the Special Budget Committee on the Draft Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2022 and other related matters.
In the new Constitutional Instrument (CI) the Electoral Commission (CI) has expressed the intention of using the Ghana Card or ECOWAS Card, as the only form of identification or medium to qualify a citizen of Ghana who is legible to vote to registered or enrolled onto the voters’ register.
The Electoral Commission (EC) chair, Jean Mensa, has received a severe warning from the National Democratic Congress(NDC) in the North to ensure fairness in the 2024 general elections.
The EC has stated that it’s taking steps to make the Ghana card the only document for registration.
But the party says the steps taken by the EC chair are a recipe for chaos and has thus served notice that the party will not tolerate it.
These comments were made at Yendi in the Northern region by the Regional Organiser of the party, Abdallah Baba Zee, when the party embarked on a health walk in the Yendi constituency.
“We the NDC are sending a word of caution to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission to be very careful about the steps she is taking. The EC is seeking to use the Ghana Card as the only document for the limited registration. The constituency center is the only place for registration. We are sending a strong warning to the EC chair that we will not sit down for such to happen. It has the potential of disenfranchising many Ghanaians, and we will not accept it,” Abdallah Baba Zee said.
Three people have picked nomination forms to contest for the primaries of the NDC in the Yendi constituency.
The Regional Organiser commended the Regional Chairmen and the 137 MPs who supported former President John Dramani Mahama in the picking of nominations.
He however admonished the constituency executives for purpose of unity in the party not to openly support any of the aspirants and also urge the aspirants to be decorous in their campaign messages.
“I want to admonish the constituency executives here in Yendi not to openly throw their support for any of the aspirants as this could affect the unity in the party. Again to the aspirants, I want to caution that as you go about your campaign, please be mindful of your language. This is an internal election, and we will surely need one another in the general elections. Let’s use language that is not divisive but preach peace and unity,” he said.
The Constituency Communications Officer for NDC in the Yendi constituency, Adam Halid, said the health walk is to re-energize the base of the party for 2024.
He said the party is poised to win the Yendi seat for the NDC and slammed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for its woeful performance.
“We are re-energizing the party to get ready for 2024. We are very poised to win the seat. The NPP has woefully failed the good people of Yendi. The president himself came and took the Overlord of Dagbon Yaa Naa to the Dagbon state senior high school to cut the sod for the Yendi water project, for three years now, nothing is happening,” he said.
On his part, Fataw Osman Jofa who is in the race again preached peace and unity among the aspirants.
He promised to fix the Yendi water project within six months if he wins.
“I want to call on my brothers who have also picked nomination forms to please let there be peace and unity among us. Our biggest concern is to win the seat from the incompetent government of the NPP.
“I want to say that the president has failed the good people of Yendi because the former President John Dramani Mahama was almost done with the documents of the Yendi water project and this president has failed to deliver. He cut the sod on three different occasions but nothing is being done. When I get the chance, I want to assure the good people of Yendi that within six months we will fix the water challenges,” he said.
According to a member of parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority will oppose any attempt by the Electoral Commission (EC) to utilize the Ghana Card as the only form of identity for voter registration.
He says any such move by the EC will hurt the right to vote and be voted for.
Speaking on the Big Issue via telephone on TV3 Monday, February 27, the former Minority Leader indicated that there are 3.5million people who are without Ghana Card.
He questioned whether the EC is going to deny all these 3.5 million people from exercising their right to vote because they do not have a Ghana Card.
“There is the right to vote and be voted for, the NDC will defend that right,” he said.
“We are contesting the use of Ghana Card as the sole reference for purposes of getting registered as a voter,” he said.
He stressed “the right to vote and be voted for is sacred. 3.5 million people don’t have the card, can you tell these 3.5 million persons not to vote?”
The Minority have been raising issues against the proposed CI.
On Thursday, February 23, they rejected officials from the EC and the National Identification (NIA) who were in Parliament to brief the House on the proposed CI.
They were expecting Madam Jean Mensa herself to appear.
But a statement issued by the Commission on Monday, February 27 said “The EC received a letter from Parliament on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 inviting the Commission to brief the leadership of the House on the draft CI on the registration of voters on Thursday 23 February 2024.
“At the time the chairperson had traveled to Nigeria at the invitation of ECOWAS/ECONEC for a peer exchange and election observation mission. That notwithstanding Dr Bossman Asare Deputy Chair for Corporate Service attended the meeting together with other directors of the commission.
“Surprisingly, the meeting was canceled as the Minority side insisted on the presence of the EC Chairperson at the meeting. We wish to state that contrary to the news item that the EC chair has returned to Ghana, the chairperson is still in Nigeria. She has not returned to Ghana.”
The EC added “The Commission, especially its chairperson understands the importance of the institution of Parliament having worked with Parliament for two decades prior to her appointment as Chairperson of the EC.
“The Chairperson upholds the institution of Parliament and will therefore not disrespect it in any way.
“The fact remains that the invitation from Parliament was sent a day before the meeting at a time the chairperson was out of the jurisdiction. Had she been aware of the request prior to her travel she certainly would have prioritized the meeting and attended upon the Honourable House.”
The Election Commission (EC) has debunked reports that its Chairperson, Jean Mensa, rejected Parliament’s invitation.
The EC disclosed in a statement that the letter inviting the Chairperson to brief Parliamenton the draft CI on the registration of voters was received a day prior to the scheduled briefing when Jean Mensa was already out of the jurisdiction.
“The Commission especially its Chairperson understands the importance of the institution of Parliament having worked with Parliament for two decades prior to her appointment as Chairperson of the EC. The Chairperson upholds the institution of Parliament and will therefore not disrespect it in any way.
“The fact remains that the invitation from Parliament was sent a day before the meeting, at a time when the Chairperson was out of the jurisdiction. Had she been aware of the request prior to her travel, she certainly would have prioritized the meeting and attended upon the Honourable House.”
The EC added that the Chairperson, Jean Mensa, is yet to return to Ghana contrary to reports that she had returned from her trip to Nigeria.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed reservations over the administration of elections in Ghana compared to that of Nigeria.
Mr Mahama, who is on a pre-election tour to Nigeria under the auspices of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), was impressed with the faith that all the candidates and parties have in the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria.
He indicated that every political party in Nigeria has testified that INEC has acknowledged and taken their concerns into account.
He lamented that same cannot be attributed to Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC). According to him, the EC used to be amongst the top election administration organisations in the world.
“I can’t say the same for my Electoral Commission (EC), which was once among the top election administration organizations in the world,” he said.
Mr. Mahama bemoaned what he called “hostility” meted out by the “EC and her other Commissioners” to the NDC, saying he wishes the EC could inspire the same level of confidence in all parties like the INEC.
However, the former president believes that his wish would remain so due to what he described as the EC’s rejection of all efforts by the National Peace Council to organize a meeting between the Commission and the two major political parties, the NDC and the NPP.
“Regrettably, I am not hopeful this will happen when we have an EC that has blatantly spurned all efforts by the National Peace Council to host a meeting between the Commission and the two major political parties, the NDC and NPP,” he said.
Former President John Dramani Mahama heads The West African Elders Forum (WAEF) in a duty to ensure a peaceful election as Nigeria seeks to elect a new president.
The Forum consists of former leaders in the sub – region including former President of Nigeria , Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former Beninese President, Boni Yayi, Fatoumata Tambajang, former Vice President of the Gambia, former Burkinabe prime minister and president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Kadre Ouedraogo and Dr. Erastus Mwencha, former Deputy Chair of the African Union (AU).
Mr. Mahama is expected to be on the ground for the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections as well as the March 11, 2023, state elections.
The ElectionCommissionhas refuted claims that around 200,000 field workers for the 2020 elections were not paid.
In a statement, the EC described the reports as false and an attempt to malign and impugn the integrity of the commission.
“The EC has to date paid all staff who worked during the 2020 elections. For the records the EC in a bid to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, instituted a system whereby field staff were paid through their bank accounts.”
The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu first made the allegation on the Floor of Parliament on Thursday, February 23, 2023.
“Minister of Finance, the Electoral Commission hasn’t even paid the members it used for the 2020 elections. Go and do what is right for them to pay them,” the former Minority Leader said.
But according to the EC, any person or groups of persons claiming non-payment by the Commission for work done during the 2020 elections do not exist.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has urged Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to expedite the payment of money for officials who were deployed to cover the 2020 general elections.
The EC announced earlier that it had begun processes towards the payment of a debt owed to some 220,000 electoral officers across the country in the December 2020 elections.
Debating on draft public elections regulations by the EC, the lawmaker said the EC must be adequately resourced to be able to carry out its mandate.
“Minister of Finance, the Electoral Commission hasn’t even paid the members it used for the 2020 elections. Go and do what is right for them to pay them,” the former Minority Leader said on the floor of Parliament on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Minority inParliamenton Thursday opposed a briefing by officials of the Electoral Commission and the National Identification Authority (NIA) on the proposed constitutional instrument by the EC due to the absence of the EC boss, Jean Mensa.
The group resisted the presentation by the officials which resulted in a scuffle between them and the majority caucus at a committee meeting.
The Minority has over the period expressed its displeasure with the CI by the EC which seeks to use the Ghana Card as the sole document for registration onto the voters register for the upcoming General Elections.
Former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has bemoaned failure of the Electoral Commission (EC) to hold a limited registration exercise since 2021.
He says the EC has sinned against the Constitution by not holding any exercise in that regard.
According to him, this has disallowed some citizens who have come of age, the opportunity to enroll as voters.
He asked to be challenged on his assertion with facts and figures.
“Mr Speaker, for the record – 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, Ghanaians who have attained the age of 18 years have been denied the opportunity to be captured as registered voters. This is a constitutional wrong,” he said.
This situation, he noted, is unacceptable to a country committed to multiparty constitutional democracy.
“Mr Speaker, the right to vote and to be voted for is so sacred. Even for you elected Members of Parliament – one of the minimum qualifications for you to get voted as MPs is to show that you are a registered voter, that is the Constitution imposes in Article 94,” he added.
For this reason, he stated that the “Electoral Commission by virtue of their existing CI have no reason to tell anybody and this August House why they have still failed to capture Ghanaians who have attained 18 years.”
For this reason, the Tamale South MP said the EC must not be allowed to lay its new Constitutional Instrument (CI) in Parliament.
The ECs new CI makes the Ghana Card the only identification document to be used to guarantee citizenship.
The Minority is also opposed to a regulation in the CI which requires persons who want to register to do so at an EC district office.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, these regulations will disenfranchise Ghanaians, thus must not be allowed to go through.
“The Electoral Commission was now informing the Ghanaian public through Parliament that only the national ID card issued by the National Identification Authority (NIA) will be a sole reference document for the purpose of registration. Mr Speaker, that is the intendment of what is referred to as a draft CI,” he said.
“Again, Mr. Speaker, our committee found problems with that designation where it says a district office of the EC or any other place that the Commission considers appropriate. Mr Speaker, throughout history in 1993, since the establishment of the Electoral Commission, voter registration exercise is done at polling stations, not district offices,” he added.
But speaking in defence of the EC’s proposed Constitutional Instrument, MP for Akuapem South, O.B Amoah said the EC is justified in seeking to use the Ghana Card as the sole identity document.
He contended that the guarantor system has been abused, “in the sense that people override, detain guarantee contractors where they join the queue, get registered, they stand by and say that they are waiting for 10 or five people.”
Mr Amoah described the abuse of the guarantor system as a worry and must be taken into consideration.
“… If you look at this report, he seems to acknowledge that the guarantor system has been abused. Even as practitioners, the thought behind the guarantor system was to acknowledge that where a prospective registrant did not have any means of identification, they could fall on their parents, spouses, children to guarantee and sign a form that really I know this person,” he explained.
The general public has been urged by the Ghanaian Electoral Commission (EC) to ignore any job posting purporting to be from the commission.
A statement from the Commission said it is currently not recruiting and that any recruitment advert must be treated as a scam from unscrupulous persons.
“The attention of the Electoral Commission has been drawn to an advertisement circulating on various social media platforms to the effect that the Commission is undertaking a recruitment exercise.
“The general public is informed that the Commission is not carrying out any recruitment exercise.”
“The public is advised to disregard the said advertisement,” the statement added.
Former Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye has called for a review of the appointment of the Electoral Commission Chairperson.
According to him, the appointment of the chair person by the every sitting President in accordance with the constitution, has always created challenges particularly between the two competing political parties.
For him, the EC chair should be elected by a commission members whose decision will be independent of any interferences, 3news.com reports.
“The Commission members being quite independent, not elected by the president or anyone, will then choose a chairperson, so that the work of the commission is collegial and collectives, then they are satisfied.
“In some places, you will find the situation whereby the EC boss is for a fixed term, 6 years, it recently happened in Nigeria. So that after doing a particular work you go, so that in choosing the EC boss it is usually a retired Professor or a Professor about to retire, a judge who is just part of the system, and then you do that work for 6 years, and then you leave,” he is quoted to have said by 3news.com.
Mr. Oquaye further indicated that the proposed selection process will help encourage a peaceful political environment and also safeguard the work of the EC which is to work independently.
“In other words, there is no end to wisdom with regards to what we have got now, nomination by the President and then ultimate approval by Parliament. Of course, if the president has Majority in Parliament, then the approval is as well as his nomination. All these I believe should be examined if we should have a peaceful political terrain, that is what I have ben saying,” he noted.
The President of Ghana has appointment power under the Constitution to appoint the EC chair.
While the framers of the Constitution have imposed varying levels of constraints on the President’s appointment power for democratic, governmental, prudential, and even historical considerations, the President wields both consultative and approval powers.
The President is compelled to act on the advice of the Council of State in selecting the Chairman/Chairwoman and members of the Electoral Commission as stated in Article 70(2) of the Constitution.
“The President shall act on the advice of the Council of State; appoint the Chairman, Deputy Chairmen, and other members of the Electoral Commission,” the constitution indicates.
The Minority in Parliamenthas served notice it will block the approval of the 2023 budgetary estimates for the Electoral Commission (EC).
The special budget committee is expected to present its report to the House today, Friday, but the Minority Caucus has said they will resist the approval of funds allocated to the EC.
Leader of the caucus, Haruna Iddrisu told JoyNews the EC has failed to conduct continuous registration of voters who have turned 18 since 2021 and this year.
According to him, the action of the EC violates Article 42 of the constitution.
“The Minority will not support the approval of the budget of the Electoral Commission unless the EC upholds the letter and spirit of article 42. Persons who attained the age of 18 years in 2021 have not been given the opportunity to be on the electoral roll and to be registered as voters and persons who attained the age of 18 years in 2022,” he stated.
The Tamale South MP explained that his side will only support the EC’s budget if the Commission publicly announces to make provision for the registration of persons who have turned 18 years in this year and 2021.
“I do not see why we should be giving them approval and more importantly, the EC is now seeking to depend on the data of the National Identification Authority.
“We still have difficulty appreciating the EC as an independent constitutional body and NIA under ministerial control. We simply will not accept the EC yielding unto an Executive institution that is subject to the control of the President or a Minister of State,” he added.
Meanwhile, the EC’s Constitutional Instrument currently before Parliament seeks to use the Ghana Card as the sole form of identification for the registration of eligible voters.
In July, the EC placed before Parliament a draft C.I titled: Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2021, which is expected to regulate continuous voter registration.
The C.I has been referred to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament. By convention, the committee is chaired by a member of the Minority group.
The Founder and Leader of the United Progressive Party(UPP) Akwasi Addai Odike says his party will be operational once again when the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensah leaves office after the defeat of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) in the 2024 election.
According to him, Jean Mensah whom he accuses of doing the NPP’s bidding unfairly revoked his party’s license because he’s a known critic of the ruling party.
The EC last week announced the termination of the registration certificates of 17 political parties.
In an advertiser’s announcement in the national dailies, the EC explained that the parties have failed to establish national and regional offices in the country.
The parties include; the United Progressive Party (UPP) led by Akwasi Addae, popularly known as Odike, the United Front Party (UFP), the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), the National Reform Party (NRP), the Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD).
The others are; the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), United Development System Party (UDSP), Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE), Yes People’s Party (YPP), United Ghana Movement (UGM), New Vision Party (NVP), Ghana Democratic-Republican Party (GDRP) and the Ghana National Party (GNP).
The rest are; the Power Unity Party (PUP), People’s Action Party (PAP), United Renaissance Party (URP), and the United Love Party (ULP).
But speaking on Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV Tuesday, Akwasi Addai Odike indicated that he will contest the 2024 Presidential election as an Independent Candidate.
According to him, he will not let the unfair revocation of his party’s operating lincence by the Electoral Commission stop him from contesting the election, as he has good policies and programs to move Ghana forward should he be elected as next President.
“The EC Chairperson purposed in her heart that she’ll not allow me to contest the 2024 election, but the law allows me to contest as an independent candidate and that’s what I’ll do. The EC boss has revoked my party’s license but I strongly believe that the next EC boss who will come will restore my party’s license. This woman will not stay in office beyond 2024 when the NPP loses the election. No party apart from the NPP can work with her because she only does the NPP’s bidding. So, I know she’s knocked us down for only two years, after that UPP will bounce back strongly.”
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has denied knowledge of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s summons to appear before him, along with the National Identification Authority (NIA), and provide a briefing on the new constitutional instrument that aims to make the Ghana Card the only document for the registration of voter ID.
According to the Electoral Services Director at the EC, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, the commission does not rely on hearsay in its operations, and the Speaker should have officially written to the Commission if he had issues with the processes involved.
“We’ve not heard anything from the speaker. Officially, they have to write to us if they have issues with our C.I. We have no letter from parliament, and we don’t work with hearsay. We’ve already met the subsidiary committee and the budget committee, but nobody has invited us to come because we can only go to parliament when we have been invited. It’s like going to somebody’s house without invitation,” Dr. Serebuor said in an interview with the host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV’s morning show, Kwesi Parker-Wilson.
Dr. Serebour’s remark follows a warning from Alban Bagbin requesting the EC to forgo introducing the new C.I. in parliament if they don’t get along with the House leadership.
The EC asserts that because they haven’t received an official invitation, they are unable to comply with the Speaker’s request.
Dr. Serebour then reiterate that the move by the EC to make the Ghana Card the sole document for the registration of voters’ IDremains unchanged.
He also added that the total number of Ghanaians captured and registered for the Ghana Card by the NIA officials is over 17 million.
“We met the NIA officials about 2 weeks ago and per the statistics, they have covered more than 17 million Ghanaians. The backlog now is about 400,000 that is persons who are yet to receive their cards after being registered. I can tell you that some of the district officers are empty now because the NIA officials have registered everyone in the district.”
“People are no longer complaining about the issuance of the card and we have two more years to go, so we are still standing by our earlier position,” he added.
