NDC communicator calls on EC boss and her two deputies to resign

A Founder and President of the opposition National Democratic Congress's (NDC's) Serial Callers Association of Western Region, Mr. William Gyima known as Abeiku Prestea has urged the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her two deputies to resign over the raging controversy at the Commission immediately and prevent them from any embarrassment.

Speaking to Bishop Oteng on Hope FM on Thursday, December 14, 2017 Mr Gyima said the continuous stay of the drivers of the EC will affect the country's future elections because of the strained relationship between them.

"The current in-fighting amongst the EC commissioners does not bode well for Ghana’s democracy and will dent confidence in their ability to hold credible elections in the future," he explained.

According to him, "Ghana’s EC has successfully conducted seven elections which have contributed to the stability and economic growth the country currently enjoys within the sub-region. We have had electoral disputes in the past, but these were managed or resolved amicably to the envy of other African countries and the world at large".

He added that "the due process should be followed in investigating and resolving the issues, however, at this stage, I'm of the opinion that irreparable damage has been done to the credibility of the current EC chairs.

Regardless of what the process finds and whatever Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) measures that are used, it is doubtful that the three people, the EC Chair and her two deputies, will be able to work coherently together in the future".

He, therefore, recommended that the EC Chairperson and two deputies to do the honorable thing of resigning to save their reputation and that of the institution.

"We need to protect the sanctity of this state institution so as to keep intact the confidence the good people of Ghana have reposed in the Commission", he emphasized.

Abeiku Prestea also advised politicians to stop politicising the issue.

"Ghanaians we like doing politics with everything that is a national issue and at the end of the day, we will not see the truth in it and the issue will be thrown into a dustbin", he lamented.

He also used the platform to commend President Akufo-Addo for following the Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution of the Land and hence forwarded the petition the CJ.

Background

Madam Charlotte Osei and her deputies have come under intense pressure to resign, following allegations of corruption made against her by employees of the Commission in a petition and her response, which highlighted corrupt practices at the Commission.

Tensions at the EC became public after employees of the Commission petitioned President Akufo-Addo to dismiss Charlotte Osei for alleged financial malfeasance.

The aggrieved employees claimed among others that Mrs. Osei awarded a GHc 3.9 million contract for work on an office complex without consulting the Commission.

Mrs. Osei, however, rubbished the allegations in her response to the employees, and fired some accusations at the Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Operations at the EC, Amadu Sulley.

She has sued the employees for making what she described as unsubstantiated allegations against her.

Meanwhile, the said petition has been forwarded to the Chief Justice.