Group calls for urgent reforms to ensure transparency, neutrality in Electoral Commission

A governance and democracy advocacy organization ADAM-GH has called for an urgent overhaul of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) to restore public confidence in the country’s electoral process.

According to the group, Ghana’s democracy relies heavily on the integrity of its electoral institutions, warning that the perceived bias of the EC under its current leadership, headed by Jean Mensah, has weakened public trust in the electoral system.

The Executive Secretary of the group, Emmanuel Salam Azubila, criticized the leadership of the EC, accusing it of undermining democracy through perceived partisanship and selective application of electoral laws.

"The Electoral Commission is the cornerstone of our democracy, yet its actions and inactions have raised serious questions about its neutrality and professionalism. The 60% voter turnout in the 2024 elections is a clear signal that Ghanaians are losing faith in the system,” he stated.

He pointed to allegations of selective application of electoral laws, irregularities in vote collation, and appointments of politically affiliated individuals within the EC as evidence of systemic issues.

The organization stressed the need for a nonpartisan and professional EC to ensure free and fair elections in the future.

They called on Parliament to prioritize reforms in the appointment process of EC officials.

Azubila suggested that a constitutional amendment could establish a more transparent and bipartisan mechanism to appoint commissioners.

“We cannot continue to allow political affiliations to dictate the functioning of an institution as crucial as the Electoral Commission. It is time for Parliament to act decisively to protect Ghana's democracy,” he urged.

AM/EK

Watch some videos from the recent Parliamentary sittings below: