The National Council of Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission of Ghana has demanded the payment of all arrears owed to vendors.

According to the association, in the event that the commission fails to make payments by Wednesday 1st March 2023, all calls from vendors will be directed to the Commission. It revealed that vendors will also be directed to the Head Office to claim their monies and district Electoral Officers would be unable to engage the services of vendors for subsequent exercise.

“All arrears owed to vendors should be paid by Wednesday 1st March 2023, to enable District Electoral Officers have the peace of mind to live and work in their districts.”
Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission

As the second highest decision-making body of the Association, the group noted that it held a meeting on Thursday, 26th January 2023 to discuss issues of grave concern to members of the Commission. The meeting was necessitated by the numerous distress calls and messages from members, especially Regional Directors, Deputy Regional Directors and District Electoral Officers.

In view of this, it noted that it has resolved that the Commission’s inability to settle all outstanding administrative releases in full by the 15th of February 2023 will attract some measures from the association, which will include the hanging of red flags at all offices of the Commission from 16th February 2023 to show its protest.

“Officers would be unable to perform administrative and operational functions that require any financial commitments. The National Council of the Association may employ other legitimate and permissible tools under the Labour Laws of Ghana to press on home our demands after hanging of the red flags.”
Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission

Furthermore, the association entreated the Commission to restore resources for operational and administrative activities to their previous levels. Additionally, it called for rates and levels to be determined and communicated to officers before the commencement of upcoming activities.

“Officers of the Commission would not pre-finance any activities under any circumstance. Management should liaise with the Government as a matter of urgency to implement the recommendations made on conditions of service of the staff of Electoral commission by the Twenty (20)- member fact finding Parliamentary Adhoc Committee set up by Parliament on Friday,28th January, 2011.”
Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission

Finally, it entreated management to also endeavor to address all these pertinent issues in a timely manner for industrial peace and harmony to prevail, considering the fact that this year is an Election year.

Concerns raised by Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission

As part of its concerns, the association cited the delayed payments on administrative releases, outstanding bills of logistics and the drastic reduction of resources for operational activities. It revealed among other things issues of concern to members which includes the delay in the payment of Administrative Releases for the last two quarters of 2022.

“Unprecedented delay in the payment for logistics and other services (canopies, tables, chairs, generators and boat) hired for the 2020 Voter Registration exercise. Delay in the payment of allowances for Commissioners for Oaths engaged for the 2020 Voter Transfer Exercise.”
Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission of Ghana

The group equally highlighted the drastic reduction in the allocation of resources for operational activities of the Commission since the 2018 Referendum to date and the constant pre-financing of operational and administrative activities of the Commission.

Additionally, it expressed worry over the outstanding payments for some temporary Officials engaged for DLE 2019 and 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

Highlighting on the delay in payment of administrative releases for two quarters for the year 2022, the association cited the delay in the administrative releases for fuel and inability to service and maintain official vehicles.

Citing the payment of unrealistic rates of fuel for official vehicles, it noted the inability of government to make payments for utilities for the Offices and the disconnection of some offices of the Commission due to non-payment of utility bills.

“Current economic conditions make it impossible for Regional Directors, Deputy Regional Directors and District Electoral Officers to Pre-finance fuel for official vehicles and undertake routine servicing and maintenance.”
Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission of Ghana

On the issue of delayed payment in outstanding bill, the Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission of Ghana recounted the non-payments for logistics which include canopies, tables, chairs, boats, generators among others used for the 2020 voter registration exercise, undertaken during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic as a major challenge.

It explained that logistics needed for the exercise was hired, based on quotas, rates and operational, instructions from the Commission, amidst ‘strong warnings’ of sanctions in the failure to adhere.

Also, the association revealed that payment of only 20% of the total amount submitted for logistics, almost three years after the exercise, which ended successfully for officers to receive commendation from the Commission for a good job done, the registers used for the 2020 elections are in debt.