Political scientist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng, has expressed disappointment in the appointment of persons suspected to be NPP activists as board members of the Electoral Commission (EC).

According to him, the appointment of the supposed NPP activists portends trouble as it defeats the tenets of democracy in the country. He revealed that in the absence of that, elections itself will lose credentials as being democratic.

Dr Boateng indicated that the appointment is a “sad development” because Ghana has come quite far.

“Actually, it’s a blatant violation of some ethical codes on general, electoral governance in democracy. To the extent that if you say the EC are supposed to be an independent institution, then the executive will always have to make conscious effort to send individuals there, who are not only there on the account that they have been appointed by the executive, but that the society receives them with the understanding that their presence will not affect the core element in democracy which ensures that the playing field is levelled; a requirement that will ensure free, fair and credible elections.”
Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng

Dr Boateng recounted that in the past, the NPP simply didn’t accept anything John Rawlings put in place, as it came out with all sorts of accusations and justifications, indicating that they were the “apostles of democracy”. Today, he revealed that the party is carrying out what it hitherto was against.

The political scientists insited that Dr Peter Appiahene, one of the appointees, is a known NPP activist. As such, his appointent is “blatant” and even on moral grounds, he doesn’t qualify to work at the Electoral Commission.

Describing the situation as unacceptable, Dr Boateng stated that there is bound to be a growing sense of mistrust for the EC. He highlighted that the recent development is so “shady and problematic”.

“The insistence on using the Ghana Card as the sole document to establish one’s Ghanaian identity, this issue is hardly over, the issue of the 2020 election is there unaddressed, and we are adding to that. So, the whole issue is that we are not making any conscious effort to grow our democracy… We can see that institutionally, the action taken might have the potential to derail the progress made, and one thing with democracy, it is tenuous… Democracy is such that it should be [won] and especially with the electoral rule, everybody must stay away and make sure that nobody shifts the goalpost to their advantage.”
Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng

Commenting on what should be done to salvage the situation, Dr Boateng called for the resignation of Dr Appiahene from the EC board.

“The gentleman himself should resign. He should do the honorable thing [because] Ghanaians don’t accept him, he’s an NPP person and he’s not the one to serve Ghana in this capacity.
Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng

Council of state criticized over EC appointment

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams, has criticized the Council of State for giving the President the go-ahead to appoint politically exposed persons to the Electoral Commission (EC).

Mr Adams accused President Akufo-Addo of appointing known activists of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to sensitive positions including the elections management body. He expressed that one of the newly appointed persons to the EC, Dr Peter Appiahene, is a known NPP activist who is a member of the communications team of the party in the Bono Region.

“The Council of State who is supposed to be advising the president gave the go-ahead to make such an appointment. I am not just disappointed in the President but also the Council of State; they gave the go-ahead.
“Clearly, there is everything wrong with the persons the President has appointed. The President has appointed known activists of the NPP… President Akufo-Addo has been appointing persons known to be NPP activists, we saw the Bossman Asares and the Jean Mensas.”
Kofi Adams

It will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo on Monday, March 20, 2023, swore in three new members of the Electoral Commission (EC). The three new members – Dr Peter Appiahene, Madam Salima Ahmed Tijani and Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng, were sworn in at a short ceremony at the Jubilee House.