EC needs new boss – IDEG

Civil society group Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has said Electoral Commission Chair Charlotte Osei and her two deputies must “step aside” as investigations are conducted into accusations and counter-accusations of fraud, corruption and financial malfeasance being flung among the three top officials of the election management body.

IDEG in a statement proposed that once they step aside, the president should appoint “an interim Chair” “to create a more conducive environment for the Commission to do its work normally.”

The President has referred a petition filed by some staff of the EC for the removal of the chair to the Chief Justice for action.

The petitioners leveled 27 allegations against Mrs Osei each of which she has denied. She counter-alleged that she is being hounded due to her fight against internal graft.

Amid the turmoil at the EC, Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Director of IDEG is of the view that the appointment of an interim EC Chair pending the investigation will do the election management body a lot of good.

IDEG proposed that President Akufo-Addo, Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, Speaker of Parliament Prof Mike Oquaye and the Chair of the Council of State must confer both on the appointment of an interim Chair and the investigations. According to him, these four institutions have “constitutional responsibilities towards the EC and carry a moral burden to work collectively towards the restoration of public faith and trust in the institution.”

“This would enable the EC to return to stability and effective operations while securing the necessary conditions for its structural reforms,” IDEG added.

EC boss debunks allegations levelled against her by unfazed staff by GhanaWeb on Scribd