EC commissioners not at war – Ayuba

The Assistant Head of Communications at the Electoral Commission, Alhassan Ayuba has dismissed claims that the commissioners of the Electoral Commission are at loggerheads and do not trust each other.

According to him, the commissioners relate well and have a good working relationship.

The allegation of mistrust was contained in a report by a Special Committee of Parliament. According to the report, the high level of mistrust among the key officials at the commission is impeding the smooth discharge of their duties.

The revelation came to light during the debate in Parliament ahead of the approval of the 2017 budget estimate for the commission.

Head of the Special Budget Committee of the House Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu advised the commissioners to learn to trust each other since it is critical for the organisation of elections in the country.

“The general observation from the committee was that the commissioners are not on good terms. It cannot be good for the conduct of elections. For instance, when they appeared before us and we asked the whereabouts of the chairman, the deputy commissioner said: ‘My information is that she has travelled outside’ without informing the others,” the minister in charge of Parliamentary affairs said.

But Mr. Ayuba in an interview on Citi FM, Tuesday stated that claims of mistrust and an unhealthy working relationship are strange.

“The Commissioners relate well with each other. I don’t know where that information is coming from,” Mr. Ayuba said.

He added “it is an institution governed by rules and there are structures and they work cordially among themselves. Last two weeks they had a meeting and all of them attended. So I am stating emphatically that what I know is that there is a very cordial relationship between the Commissioners.”