EC impasse: Constitutional crisis ahead – Asiedu Nketia

The general secretary of the main opposition National Democratic Congress has predicted a constitutional crisis ahead of the country if the protracted tension at the electoral commission is not resolved immediately.

According to him, the impasse at the election management body has obstructed the undertaking of crucial decisions and actions that should have been made after the 2016 elections.

The EC boss Charlotte Osei and some of her deputies have been engrossed in public disagreement over how affairs are conducted at the institution. Both sides have accused each other of incompetence and financial impropriety. A petition sent to the president for the dismissal of the commissioners is being considered by a committee set up the Chief Justice as Ghana’s constitution demands.

Addressing Members of the NDC AT Aflao in the Ketu South district of the Volta region, Mr Asiedu Nketia said the issues plaguing the commission must be a major worry to Ghanaians.

“My fear is that we will get so close to the next elections and there will be too many things yet undone, and if we are not careful we are leading this nation into a constitutional crisis. We have been warned not to speak for fear of being cited for contempt. If there is anything leading us into crisis I will prefer to talk about it and risk being cited for contempt than to keep quiet.

“Whatever is happening about the EC must happen quick enough so they can look forward, anything and undertake their activities before the 2020 elections, the alternative will be a chaotic election. And Ghanaians are not ready for that. We demand that the results of the 2016 elections is gazetted,” he said.

The NDC executive also appealed to the National Identification Authority to include more means of identity for the Ghana card instead of restricting themselves to passport and birth certificate.