The leader and founder of All People’s Congress (APC) Dr. Hassan Ayariga at the EC headquarters criticized EC for the 2016 disqualification. Dr. Ayariga expressed strong opinions about his disqualification from the 2016 Presidential election. Dr. Ayariga provided insights into what he considered a personal attack rather than a technical issue, detailing his interactions with the then-Chairperson of the EC, Charlotte Osei, and reflecting on his overall experience. His remarks touched on election transparency, the EC’s conduct, and the need for reforms to improve Ghana’s electoral process.

Dr. Ayariga began by characterizing his disqualification from the 2016 elections as a personal decision rather than one based on procedural or technical grounds. Dr. Ayariga emphasized that his previous experience contesting in the 2012 elections was problem-free, as he successfully filled out the necessary forms and qualified as a candidate.

According to Dr. Ayariga, the disqualification in 2016 hinged on discrepancies in his signature, which he found unreasonable. He argued that signatures are not mechanical or unchangeable, noting that human handwriting can vary slightly over time or in different contexts.

“The disqualification was based on differences in the signory, and I wrote to madam Charlotte then, and told her that signatory were not rubber stamps, whereby you just stamp and have it perfectly. People are bound to make some kind of gaps in their signatory.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga the leader and founder of All People’s Congress (APC)

Challenging the Disqualification and Correspondence with the EC

To support his argument, Dr. Ayariga recounted how he sent multiple letters from the EC, signed by Charlotte Osei, each featuring slight variations in her signature. He presented these as evidence to highlight the unreasonable nature of his disqualification based on signature discrepancies.

Despite the strong case he felt he made; the disqualification was upheld. Dr. Ayariga noted that he and his team accepted the situation.

“We accepted it that way. We went to court. We won the court case, and we were asked to go back and contest, but she insisted that we had to again do a new one… I told her, you know what? Let’s forget it. We’ll go 2020.’’
Dr. Hassan Ayariga the leader and founder of All People’s Congress (APC)

Vindication and Reflections on Charlotte Osei’s Departure

Dr. Ayariga also touched on the eventual removal of Charlotte Osei from her position as EC Chairperson.

“You know what happened to her. Charlotte Osei was booted out because of the misappropriation of the EC’s resources and many other allegations of misconduct So, I was actually vindicated by my statement against her.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga the leader and founder of All People’s Congress (APC)

Dr. Ayariga believes that her removal was a consequence of her actions, which validated his criticisms of her handling of his disqualification. He also emphasized that the EC has since moved on, and he expressed a willingness to support the current administration.

“That is why she’s no longer the Commissioner anymore, and we have a new one…we are here to support any commissioner to make sure that Ghana is a better place for us.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga the leader and founder of All People’s Congress (APC)

Support for a Transparent Electoral Process

Looking forward, Dr. Ayariga underscored the importance of ensuring that Ghana’s elections are free, fair, and transparent. He expressed optimism about the EC’s performance during the 2020 elections but noted that there is still room for improvement.

“They’ve conducted 2020 with a new biometric register, which many people challenged and were against and it was perfect. It gave us a precedent, two-time president, and I think there’s room for upgrades.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga the leader and founder of All People’s Congress (APC)

Dr. Ayariga further acknowledged that while the current electoral system is functional, it is not without flaws. Dr. Ayariga advocated for the establishment of a national data system, which he believed would enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the electoral process.

“We cannot say that we have a perfect system, because we do not have a database that the APC is proposing. The APC is proposing a national data system. Once we can enroll that national data system, then we can be sure of 100% perfection in our electoral process.”
Dr. Hassan Ayariga the leader and founder of All People’s Congress (APC)

Until such a system is in place, Dr. Ayariga cautioned against expecting absolute perfection in elections. However, he remained hopeful that ongoing reforms and technological advancements would continue to improve the process. He asserted; “But for now, we cannot say we’re going have 100% perfection’’

Dr. Hassan Ayariga’s remarks at the EC headquarters reflected his ongoing concerns about Ghana’s electoral processes and his commitment to supporting reforms that promote transparency and fairness. Dr. Ayariga’s experiences with disqualification in 2016 and the subsequent legal battle shaped his perspectives on the importance of electoral integrity. As the leader of the APC, Dr. Ayariga continues to advocate for a more robust electoral system, emphasizing the need for technological upgrades and a national data system to achieve a fully transparent and accurate voting process.