The IMANI Center for Policy and Education has made progress in its case against the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana after the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) ruled to uphold the think tank’s petition against the Electoral Commission.
The petition by IMANI alleged, among other things, “maladministration, abuse of power & discretion, reckless financial conduct, and conflict of interest.”
IMANI stated that the Electoral Commission’s attempts to evade accountability were curtailed as the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) dismissed its case against IMANI’s petition.
IMANI further stated that the Electoral Commission had filed to challenge the jurisdiction of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice that allows it to entertain IMANI’s petition brought against the Electoral Commission, “alleging maladministration, abuse of power & discretion, reckless financial conduct, and conflict of interest.”
“The allegations are in respect of the EC’s actions in the procurement, retirement, and disposal of expensive biometric election equipment worth tens of millions of dollars.”
IMANI Center for Policy and Education.
IMANI lamented its struggle with the Electoral Commission for many years, alleging that the Electoral Commission has always refused to make information available, which IMANI described as an act of undermining the principle of accountability.
The policy and education think tank emphasized that it was compelled to petition the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice since the Electoral Commission ignored its efforts by way of shielding public information, especially when there is now a law that instructs public institutions to make information available to citizens, the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
“Since 2020, IMANI has waged a relentless campaign to hold the EC to account. The EC’s intransigence, including failure to engage with IMANI or provide information, compelled IMANI to resort to CHRAJ for redress in May 2024.”
IMANI Center for Policy and Education.
IMANI further stated that the Electoral Commission only reluctantly replied to IMANI’s petition through its lawyers after a year had passed, arguing that it is not within the jurisdiction of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice to “investigate and pronounce.”
This propelled IMANI to respond by providing detailed evidence to back its claims as contained in the petition.
“IMANI countered with a detailed reply and a set of appendices containing extensive and detailed arguments and evidence about the gravity of the matters it has brought before CHRAJ.
“IMANI contended that every aspect of the procurement, retirement, and disposal process (including the purported auction) was highly flawed and tainted by gross maladministration, abuse of power & discretion, and financial loss amounting to tens of millions of dollars.”
IMANI Center for Policy and Education.
With this ruling now in effect, the case will proceed, and IMANI will hope to validate its claims against the Electoral Commission in its quest to ensure accountability.
“This ruling is a vital step toward justice, accountability, and administrative propriety in Ghana’s electoral processes. With this decision, the case will now proceed, affirming that no public institution is above scrutiny.”
IMANI Center for Policy and Education.
IMANI emphasized that it will pursue this case through to its finality, stating how important it is to see to the end of the case for “justice, accountability, fairness, and administrative propriety to be fully upheld for the benefit of the people of Ghana.”
IMANI further expressed its gratitude to its legal team, Gyandoh Asmah & Co., for their “exceptional representation as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) upheld our petition against the Electoral Commission (EC).”
The policy think tank also expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), commending it for upholding its mandate by upholding IMANI’s petition seeking to scrutinize the Electoral Commission for its alleged maladministration, abuse of power & discretion, reckless financial conduct, and conflict of interest.
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