Joseph Boakye Danquah
Joseph Boakye Danquah, Chairman of the NPP Minnesota Chapter, USA, has described as “illogical” criticisms by former president John Mahama that the newly formed Advisory Committee of the Electoral Commission was not necessary.
Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a stakeholders’ engagement with members of the Christian Council few days ago, questioned the need for the 21-member Eminent Advisory Committee.
According to him, representatives of the Christian Council being on such a committee is not advisable, as political parties go to the same body to settle issues between them when the political atmosphere becomes charged.
In an exclusive interview with this reporter, the management consultant, said all the hullabaloo about the composition of the committee and incessant attacks on the EC by Mr Mahama and the NDC is born out of mischief and a deliberate attempt to demonize the EC.
“It is a strategic way of preparing the grounds to reject the outcome of the 2020 elections if the results do not go in their favour,” JB Danquah retorted.
While urging the public to disregard the assertion by Mr Mahama and the NDC, JB Danquah insisted that the Advisory Committee was needed to augment the efforts of the EC and other stakeholders to ensure free and fair elections in 2020 and beyond.
“In any case, the individuals the NDC are saying are voices of reason in the country cannot possibly be the only ones who wield such influence in the country. If things get skewed at a point as the NDC are claiming, other imminent people can speak up to remedy the situation. So why this opposition from the NDC?” he quizzed.
He argues that if Mr Mahama indeed concedes that those on the committee are people with impeccable record and integrity then his position that there could be future disagreement is untenable.
“Because these individuals will make sure outstanding issues relative to the elections are addressed to avert any misunderstanding,” he stressed.
Joseph Boakye Danquah has declared his intention to contest the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Subin parliamentary seat in the impending primaries.
The Advisory Committee is chaired by a former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Justice Emile Short.
Other notable members on the committee are the likes of Rev Dr Cyril G.K. Fayose, the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana; Mr Tony Forson, President of the Ghana Bar Association; Rev. Dr. Paul Frimpong-Manso, Head of the Pentecostal Council and Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
