Leave Afari Gyan alone - Ablakwa tells GBA

…and the way they are talking, treating Dr Afari Gyan as if he is a criminal; meanwhile, this is one of our heroes. I respect that man so much that I wish my children will be like him…he has been honoured in many countries all over…” said the Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

According to him, due to how diligently Dr Afari Gyan has worked and performed his duties, Ghanaians should have asked for the extension of his contract instead of condemning him and treating him like a ‘criminal’.

“This is a man that but for the constitution and even the requirement that he must go at 70, I thought that we will probably be saying that he should be given some contract or stayed on...”

These remarks were made in response to a statement issued by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), urging President John Dramani Mahama to appoint a new chair of the Electoral Commission to superintend the 2016 general election.

In a statement, GBA expressed its belief that it is time for Dr Afari Gyan to take a bow having reached his retirement age.

The current EC chairman, Dr. Afari Gyan is due for retirement in 2015, after serving in that position since the Commission was set up in 1992.

Several people have described the statement by the Bar as premature and a way of stating the obvious because Dr Afari Gyan is going to retire anyway.

The Deputy Minister who also doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, speaking on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji, Saturday, described the statement as unfortunate and in bad taste.

“I have not been able to understand the statement by the GBA. The statement was in bad taste. GBA, Association of lawyers saying we should put the constitution aside? Ei!!! What is happening in Ghana? I have been shocked; the people who must protect our constitution? They are 7 commissioners. President Kufour had cause to appoint some when they retired. President Mills also had cause to appoint some…now the chairman is also retiring next year, President Mahama should also be given the freedom and the room to appoint. That’s what the constitution says. Why are people saying we should change process and put the constitution aside?” he queried.