Ghana has never experienced an EC as politicised as the current one – Appiah Buadi

Nichiren Appiah Buadi, a communications team member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), asserts that Ghana has never experienced an Electoral Commission as politicised as the current one.

He stated that this current EC is not independent, neutral, and is full of politically tainted commissioners.

He indicated that the President has politicised the EC to the point that he has appointed NPP members, communicators, and former TESCON members.

“When you are appointed as EC Chair, it is your responsibility to be neutral and independent. We have witnessed this from the era of VCRAC Crabbe through Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan to Madam Charlotte Osei and currently Madam Jean Mensa. The fact of the matter is that the only time we have seen the EC as an institution that is so politicised is this era. The person I blame for this problem is His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo.

"Why do I say this? For the first time in our history, we have witnessed an EC composition where an NPP former TESCON Patron was appointed as Deputy Chair. Dr. Bossman Asare denied this claim and dared people to submit evidence. But he is not an island to himself. While in school and as a lecturer, people knew about his political affiliation. There are lecturers and students who have affirmed this, but he will surely deny it. Anybody who does things that will indict his reputation will always disagree with you. Secondly, we have Dr. Appiahene. He is a known communicator for the NPP; he has been seen on TV and on radio defending and speaking for the NPP. Will they deny it too? During the elections in 2016, he was the IT head for the NPP in the Bono Region.

"So when you appoint these politically tainted persons and you say that the people on the opposite side seem to be neutral, then we will not be fair to ourselves. Dr. Bossman Asare, while in an interview on TV, described the NDC as a threat to democracy unprovoked.

"When you claim to be neutral, you do not just have to be seen to be neutral, but you should demonstrate your neutrality through your utterances. These individuals are politically tainted, and we have every right to speak about them. We had raised serious issues about the register, and the one that scared me the most was the illegal transfer of votes in Pusiga, where the EC claims to have terminated the appointment of their electoral officer.”

He added that the NDC raised legitimate concerns and called for a forensic audit in order to ensure the credibility, transparency, and accountability of the register and the electoral systems of the electoral body, and it was important for the EC to have accepted it if it had nothing to hide.