Seth Acheampong, a former Eastern Regional Minister, has sharply criticised the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) for its handling of the contentious Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun, suggesting that the Commission may have capitulated under political pressure.
His remarks come in the wake of recent comments by Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which appear to have unsettled the EC’s posture on the matter.
Mr. Acheampong pointed to a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of the EC, Dr. Bossman Asare, in a closed-door session with Parliament’s Committee of the Whole, chaired by the First Deputy Speaker.
“He was categorical, that there was not going to be a rerun and that all they were waiting for was protection from the Ghana Police Service and then they would declare. They gave us a clear definition of where they were – they had finished all their work”
Seth Acheampong, Former Eastern Regional Minister
The former Minister drew comparisons between the EC’s assuring public engagements with Parliament, which had clearly pointed to an imminent declaration of results, to its unexpected declaration of a rerun instead.
“We went to sleep and the next morning, they had changed the narrative. What could we do?” he asked, demanding an explanation for the Commission’s change of position.
Mr. Acheampong implied that the EC’s sudden change of course might have been influenced by Asiedu Nketia’s earlier televised remarks, in which the NDC Chairman described the EC as “not fit for purpose.” This, he argued, may have caused the electoral body to “lose their spine.”
He however viewed this 360 degree decision to rerun the elections in 19 Ablekuma North polling stations as “feeding into the incompetence narrative,” expressing concern that such conduct from a key institution could only validate partisan criticisms.
A Matter of Principle
In response to suggestions that his current position amounted to political inconsistency, Mr. Acheampong rejected the charge of flip-flopping, laying the accusation solely at the feet of the EC.
“We must still stand where we stood yesterday. If we also flip-flop, then we do not know what we are doing and history will come to bite us saying that ‘you also flip flopped’ and that was not expected of a group of your calibre”
Seth Acheampong, Former Eastern Regional Minister
He further explained that his position and that of the NPP on the EC had always been based on principle, not political expediency, thus making their current protest to the rerun consistent and deserving.
“If EC did something and it is genuine and proper, why can’t I say it? Why shouldn’t I say it? But on a subject like this, we said ‘no, we will not go for a rerun,’ because we believe we have won the election squarely”
Seth Acheampong, Former Eastern Regional Minister
He also raised concerns about the unresolved incidents of electoral violence and tampering in the constituency, which he described as “criminal.” According to him, until these matters are addressed by the Commission, it would be difficult to trust the legitimacy of the rerun initiative.
Mr. Asare insisted that the EC had failed to follow through on its own assurances and challenged them to take the necessary steps to assure the NPP that they mean well.
He further warned that the current poor conduct of the Electoral Commission might even feed into and justify long-standing calls by the ruling NDC to remove the institution’s leadership after the dust settles.
“If they are treating the people’s Chief Justice this way – removing her from office – what do you expect them to do with the Electoral Commission?”
Seth Acheampong, Former Eastern Regional Minister
Mr. Acheampong ended with his grim prediction – that the potential removal of the Electoral Commission heads under the current administration, may mirror what is currently happening with Ghana’s suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, and charged the Commission to buckle up.
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