A Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Kwesi Jonah is calling for a review of the mode of appointment of commissioners of the Electoral Commission.
According to him, the current mode of appointment is a contributory factor to the lack of confidence in the EC as expressed by the NDC in the just-ended elections.
Currently, the President upon the advice of the Council of State appoints the EC Chairperson, the two Deputies, and the four other members of the commission.
President Akufo-Addo in July 2018 nominated the current chair of the commission, Madam Jean Mensa, and her two deputies and were subsequently approved by the Council of State after the previous Chairperson, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Georgina Opoku Amankwa and Amadu Sulley were removed from office.
Kwesi Jonah says the appointment of the EC officials must be done on broader consultative grounds in order to engender trust among stakeholders.
He further proposed an amendment of the necessary laws to enable Parliament to vet and approve or disapprove of persons nominated to occupy the office.
“The process of appointing the chair, the deputy chairs, and other members of the Commission have not been very consultative and that is why anytime someone is appointed is seen as someone who is coming to serve the interest of the government that appointed him or her,” he said.
“We (Ghana) should look at it and make the process of appointment a bit more consultative, transparent, and open. Probably amend a section of the provisions of appointment so the chair will be vetted by Parliament and be voted upon,” he added.
