Peace Council worried over suits against EC - Prof. Asante

The National Peace Council (NPC) has disclosed that it is worried about the consequences of the numerous law suits against the Electoral Commission barely 33 days to the December 7 presidential and parliamentary polls.

“As citizens of this country, we are also concerned,” the chairman of the Peace Council, Prof. Emmanuel Asante said on Thursday.

Nonetheless, he stated, there was little the council can do even though, it is troubled about the timing and what might happen as a result of the court actions in respect of the disqualification of 12 presidential candidates.

“The National Peace Council has no authority over the EC, to direct the EC to do A or B. Yes, the NPC can advise the EC to ensure that there is credibility of our elections but as to how to go about it, as to how they should do it, we do not have that capacity to be able to take such directions,” Prof Asante told Class FM in an interview.

The commission last month announced the disqualification of 12 presidential hopefuls over mistakes with their nomination forms.

Some of the disqualified candidates include, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Dr. Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC).

The aforementioned candidates following their disqualification, headed to the court praying it to order the commission to reinstate them onto the list of eligible presidential candidates.

Many election watchers have expressed anxiety over the court cases, warning that the commission could lose focus if care is not taken.

But the chairperson of the commission, Charlotte Osei in an interview with the BBC on Thursday said there is nothing to be worried about, arguing that the EC is mindful of the time left for the elections but also has a responsibility to defend the country’s electoral laws.