Henry Nana Boakye, National Organizer of the NPP, has declared that the party will vigorously oppose any attempts to incorporate private institutions into the Electoral Commission’s operations.
Nana Boakye emphasized that such an occurrence is unacceptable, stating unequivocally, “It shall never happen”.
He countered the NDC’s call for a voter register forensic audit, deeming it unfounded and devoid of merit, and advocated for its dismissal.
“The NDC has failed to provide any legal basis for its unwarranted call for the Electoral Commission to cede its constitutional mandate regarding the voter register to some third party”.
“Article 45 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 2 of the Electoral Commission Act, 1993 (Act 451), exclusively confers on the Electoral Commission, the mandate of compiling electoral register and supervising all elections”.
Henry Nana Boakye
The NPP stalwart stressed that the Electoral Commission’s independence is safeguarded by the Constitution, specifically Article 46, ensuring its freedom from external control or direction in performing its duties.
According to him, this constitutional guarantee is reinforced by Section 3 of Act 451, solidifying the Commission’s autonomy.
Nana Boakye noted that these provisions safeguard the Commission’s autonomy, allowing it to function independently, free from external interference or influence.
He stated that the Supreme Court has consistently upheld the independence of the Electoral Commission (EC) in several landmark cases, including Philip Kwaku Apaloo (2010), Ransford France (2012), Abu Ramadan Series (No. 1 and 2), and NDC v AG (2020).
Nana Boakye maintained that these landmark decisions solidified the Electoral Commission’s independence, shielding it from external pressures and empowering it to make unbiased decisions, free from undue influence or control.
The NPP stalwart emphasized that the Supreme Court has upheld the Electoral Commission’s (EC) autonomy, granting it sole discretion to choose among multiple options when performing its duties.
He indicated that unless an EC decision is deemed unconstitutional, neither the Courts nor any other entity can compel the EC to adopt a different course of action.
Henry Nana Boakye Hails EC’s Proactive Engagement with Political Parties
Furthermore, Henry Nana Boakye emphasized that the Electoral Commission’s collaborative approach with political parties to address concerns has been a consistent practice throughout Ghana’s 4th Republic.
Nana Boakye stated that this approach has yielded successful outcomes in five previous elections, demonstrating its effectiveness in promoting transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
“The insistence of the NDC in controlling the EC by compelling the introduction of a 3rd party into the execution of the EC’s constitutional mandate is a breach of its independence. More so, when the EC throughout its processes has constantly engaged parties at IPAC and actively worked to resolve any concerns”.
Henry Nana Boakye
Nana Boakye indicated that the NDC must recognize that while the Electoral Commission engages stakeholders in its operations, this collaboration does not grant stakeholders decision-making authority over the Commission’s choices.
Accordingly, he maintained that the EC’s constitutional mandate remains autonomous, ensuring its independence in executing its duties without external influence or control.
The NPP stalwart strongly defended the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to reject an audit of the voter register, emphasizing that the Commission has the sole authority to determine whether an audit is necessary.
He pointed out that essentially, the EC is asserting its independence and autonomy in managing the electoral process.
According to Nana Boakye by maintaining control over the voter register audit, the EC can prevent potential external interference and ensure the process remains impartial.
The NPP’s silence on the NDC’s demand for a forensic audit of the voter register has raised eyebrows, especially since non-partisan stakeholders have also stressed its importance before the December elections.
This audit is crucial for ensuring the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, which is the backbone of Ghana’s democracy.
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