Chief Justice petitioned over long delay in EC corruption probe

The Centre for National Affairs (CNA), has petitioned the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, to fast-track investigations into corruption allegations against the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) and some other commissioners.

The CNA insists the long delay in investigating the matter is problematic

The group contends series of elections on the radar of political parties for this year and the expected referendum on the creation of new regions may be disrupted if the pending issues at the commission are not dealt with. “You know that we have two referendums coming next year [2019]. Already the political party primaries are ongoing. You know the political primaries are handled by the Electoral Commission.

“We wonder how we are going to restore the leadership; bring back the integrity of the office. We wonder how the results of those referendums will be trusted by the people.” Executive Director of the Centre, Samuel Lartey has said in an interview with Accra based Citi FM.

Background

The rivalry and tension within the commission thickened in 2017 following, the EC Boss’s full response to the impeachment petition against her by some staff of the Electoral body.

Madam Charlotte Osei did not mince words in portions of her response as in some cases she directly accused her deputies of plain thievery, and insisted she was being hounded because of her new management standards.

President Akufo-Addo in accordance with the constitution forwarded petitions over the alleged rot at the EC to the Chief Justice to look into the matter.

A five-member committee was subsequently set up by the Chief Justice to investigate the alleged corruption, but after almost two years of investigations, the committee is yet to put out any findings on the matter.