EC Saga: AFAG calls for Commission of Enquiry

The Alliance for Accountable Governance, AFAG, has called on the government to set up a Commission of Enquiry to probe matters arising at the Electoral Commission.

They said government’s failure to do this will result in it taking part of the blame for what is happening at the commission.

At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, 25th July 2017, the group said they are troubled by the accusations and counter-accusations flying from the commission as the commission is a sacred institution which shouldn’t face such actions.

A statement read by the General Secretary of the group, Arnold Boateng stated that “we recognise that the petition presented by the unnamed workers has started a removal process under article 146. However, we believe that the nature of the allegations and counter-allegations cannon end with the removal or otherwise of the Electoral Commission Chairperson”.

“AFAG by this press conference is calling on the president to set up a commission of enquiry into the entire affairs of the Electoral Commission. According to the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Asare vs. Attorney General, the good Justices ruled that the president had powers to commission an enquiry to ascertain the truth or otherwise on all issues that bother on the public interest. There is no doubt that this raging controversy at the Electoral Commission has generated public interest which requires a presidential commission of Enquiry,” the statement further read.

The group is also calling for full state media coverage of the proceedings of the proposed commission.

Some unknown staff of the Electoral Commission through their lawyer submitted a petition to the president calling for the removal of the Commission’s Chairperson for not involving her deputies and others in some key decision-making processes.

The Chairperson in response has levelled some serious allegations on some of her deputies whom she believes are behind the petition.

AFAG believes that if a Commission is not set up to look into these allegations, Ghanaians will keep on discussing and form their own conclusions which will not be good for the Commission’s integrity in future elections.