The Electoral Commission (EC) is once again under intense political fire as Hamza Suhuyini, a key communicator of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), delivered a scathing assessment of the Commission’s handling of electoral matters.
Suhuyini reaffirmed the party’s longstanding position on the Commission’s leadership, maintaining that the NDC has never supported any decision taken by the current Electoral Commission, especially in matters concerning Ablekuma North.
He emphasized that the party’s skepticism has been consistent. According to him, the Commission has continuously demonstrated what he called gross incompetence, leading the NDC to question whether such leadership is fit to safeguard Ghana’s democratic future.
He suggested that it might even be necessary to activate formal processes to remove those in charge of the Electoral Commission.
“They [the NPP] have even indicated that they will be unwilling to defend the Electoral Commission against allegations leveled against it by our own National Chairman [Asiedu Nketia]. The NPP noted that even if calls are being made for their removal, they will not defend because they believe that indeed this Electoral Commission lacks principle. And that position was made very clear last night by their General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua.”
Hamza Suhuyini
Accordingly, Suhuyini interpreted this as an admission that the Commission lacks principle and endangers Ghana’s democratic stability.
He noted that the NPP’s apparent shift in attitude signals a broader realization of the Electoral Commission’s unpredictability and inadequacies.
He urged the public to recognize the looming threat posed by what he called a canker within the country’s democratic structure.
EC Threatens Ghana’s Democratic Stability
Hamza Suhuyini further reminded the public that the NDC had raised similar alarms even before the 2020 general elections.
He pointed to events in Techiman South, where the party, led by then-Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, marched to the Commission’s premises demanding a re-collation of results and the release of polling statements.
He recounted that this protest prompted a legal response from the then-NPP government, which took the minority caucus to court for allegedly breaching the Public Order Act by marching without police clearance.
“So that is the Electoral Commission we are dealing with. It is the same Electoral Commission that, for the first time since 1992, decided to prevent the people of SALL from having representation for four good years in Parliament. And the NPP government then found it acceptable.”
Hamza Suhuyini
He noted that although civil society organizations such as IMANI raised serious concerns about the Commission’s conduct, the NPP government remained unresponsive and took no action in response.
According to Suhuyini, the NDC had to step in to provide legal aid to ensure those affected could exercise their democratic rights.
He stressed that the party’s concerns transcended partisan interests and were rooted in protecting Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and democratic processes.
He also mentioned the unprecedented situation in 2020 when military officers stormed Parliament due to confusion caused by how the Electoral Commission managed the elections. “Remember? Unprecedented. It was because of how they organized and held the 2020 general election.”
NDC Defends Vote Integrity Amid EC Controversy
Addressing the present electoral landscape, Hamza Suhuyini stressed that the NDC had previously flagged legitimate concerns regarding the auditing of the voter register ahead of the 2024 elections, but those cautions were ignored.
Nonetheless, he pointed out that the NDC did not resort to boycotting the polls, unlike the NPP’s current stance. Instead, the party chose to engage in the process while putting in place internal safeguards to uphold the credibility of the election.
“So, if you look at what is happening in Ablekuma North, it is not as if the NDC is happy with the Electoral Commission. Let us not create that impression. Because from day one, we have been consistent that the election had been won by the NDC’s candidates.”
Hamza Suhuyini
He asserted that NDC won the seat, but efforts were made to manipulate pink sheets, which he said were introduced by individuals not authorized to handle or validate electoral results.
Suhuyini stressed that the NDC refused to accept the legitimacy of those pink sheets and physically blocked attempts to introduce them into the collation process.
As a contrast, he pointed to the Nsawam Adoagyiri constituency, where the NDC accepted the Electoral Commission’s declaration despite disagreements, showcasing their commitment to democratic norms.
He warned that these repeated failures reflect how dangerously the Electoral Commission’s incompetence threatens the nation’s democratic health.
According to him, if recent statements by NDC Chairman Asiedu Nketia are being interpreted as threats leading to sudden changes by the Commission, then Ghana faces a deeper institutional crisis.
Suhuyini concluded by comparing the current chairperson, Jean Mensa, to former EC boss Dr. Afari Gyan, stating that the latter could not be easily influenced by political figures.
“So if Jean Mensa doesn’t have that courage and truly General Asedu is empowered enough to threaten her for her to bounce to that threat, then she should not be allowed to hold that position.”
Hamza Suhuyini
He ended on a hopeful note, expressing agreement with the growing calls across party lines for a leadership overhaul within the Electoral Commission. “I’m hopeful that the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua, agrees that these guys must go for the safety of our democracy.”
For Suhuyini and the NDC, that change is essential for the preservation of Ghana’s democratic stability.
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