EC petitions should reinforce accountability, avoid political retaliation – CDD-Ghana

The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called for institutional accountability processes to be implemented in a manner that strengthens state institutions rather than destabilising them.

Speaking on Starr FM with Naa Dedei Tettey, Paul Nana Kwabena Aborampah Mensah, Programme Manager for Security Sector Governance at CDD-Ghana, stressed that public petitions against the Electoral Commission (EC) leadership must be handled with care.

"No. We need that to make sure that institutions account for their stewardship. But we also wanted us to be careful so that we don’t build institutions that people serving those institutions will be shaky anytime there’s a change in government. Otherwise, we will never have resilient institutions that will be able to capably demand, provide on their mandate, and deliver on their mandate," Mensah said.

The EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, and her deputies, Dr Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey, currently face seven petitions seeking their removal, which President Mahama has forwarded to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for review.

Mensah emphasised the importance of transparency and adherence to due process in handling the petitions.

"Whatever it is, you expect that due process will be followed, right? Well, what have you seen? Due process? Whose due process? What mechanisms? I mean, let's see what happens," he said.

He further highlighted that accountability mechanisms should not be used as a tool for political retaliation.

"It should be genuine, and the process must be applicable, not because hidden beliefs or hidden promises to undo what one has done when we were in opposition."