Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) has long been considered one of the most important institutions safeguarding the integrity of the country’s democracy.
However, the practice of replacing the head of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) whenever a new government assumes office has stirred a growing debate about the long-term consequences this has on the stability of the country’s electoral system and democratic institutions.
Former UN Senior Governance Advisor, Professor Baffuor Agyeman-Duah, is among those sounding the alarm. Speaking at the Ghana Speaks High-Level Forum 2024, organized by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), he expressed grave concerns about this recurring trend, calling it “dangerous.”
“The suspicion is always there, I don’t know why, but because they are appointed by the president, it’s difficult for the political parties to accept that this is a neutral body.”
Prof. Baffuor Agyeman-Duah, Former UN Senior Governance Advisor
The perception—whether accurate or not—that EC appointments are politically motivated creates suspicion and mistrust.
In a democracy, public confidence in the impartiality of institutions like the Electoral Commission is paramount. Elections are the cornerstone of democracy, and any hint that the process could be rigged or manipulated by those in power has the potential to undermine the entire system.
When the EC is perceived as a tool in the hands of the ruling party, the very foundation of democratic governance is threatened.
The removal of Charlotte Osei as EC chairperson following the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) victory in the 2016 election provided a case in point.
Osei’s removal was widely criticized, and her ousting further fueled suspicion among opposition supporters that the government was seeking to manipulate the system. This lack of confidence in the EC’s neutrality raises the stakes of every election, pushing political tensions to the boiling point.
“Tit-for-Tat” Approach to Governance
Prof. Agyeman-Duah also stressed that this pattern of EC chair dismissals has taken on new significance in light of the opposition National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) recent declarations.
“I don’t know who is going to win the elections but suppose John Mahama becomes president again, my good friend Jean Mensa will not be there. They have already said that ‘when we come we will also change you.”
Prof. Baffuor Agyeman-Duah, Former UN Senior Governance Advisor
Prof. Agyeman-Duah noted, “After all, it’s so easy to change, one petition from a person to the president, onward to the chief justice, they constitute the panel, and you are gone.”
This tit-for-tat approach to governance creates a vicious cycle of institutional instability that risks engulfing Ghana’s electoral system in partisanship.
Prof. Agyeman-Duah’s remarks underscored the dangers of viewing the EC through a purely political lens. The frequent changes in leadership not only weaken the institution’s effectiveness but also create a culture where EC heads may be more inclined to act in ways that favor the party that appointed them, simply out of self-preservation.
The specter of being replaced once a new government comes to power could influence the actions of the EC, compromising the integrity of the electoral process.
At the heart of Prof. Agyeman-Duah’s concerns is the issue of continuity. The frequent changing of EC leadership disrupts the institutional memory and operational efficiency of the Commission.
Running a national election is a complex task, requiring years of experience and expertise. Frequent leadership changes mean that the EC is constantly forced to adapt to new visions and management styles, which can lead to inefficiencies and inconsistencies in the electoral process.
As Prof. Agyeman-Duah noted, maintaining continuity and impartiality within the EC is essential for upholding public confidence in elections. By constantly replacing the leadership of the Commission, Ghana risks creating a precedent where EC heads are seen not as independent officials but as extensions of the ruling party.
The current system of appointing EC leaders in Ghana is in urgent need of reform. The power vested in the president to appoint the EC Chair, while constitutionally sound, has proven problematic in practice.
“That is the system and I’m saying we need to review the system. The president doesn’t have to appoint. In other countries and other democracies, electoral officers or bodies are appointed differently, we can learn.”
Prof. Baffuor Agyeman-Duah, Former UN Senior Governance Advisor
The practice of replacing the head of Ghana’s Electoral Commission whenever a new government assumes office is a worrying trend that threatens the stability of the country’s democratic institutions.
As Prof. Baffuor Agyeman-Duah rightly observed, this practice creates the perception of bias within the EC, undermining public confidence in the electoral process and paving the way for political instability.
