Programmes Officer at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Vera Abena Addo, has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to adopt a broader stakeholder consultation approach in its decision to rerun parliamentary elections in 19 polling stations within the Ablekuma North Constituency.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, July 5, Ms. Addo criticised the EC for acting unilaterally without sufficient engagement, particularly on an issue as sensitive as a rerun of election results.
“I think that the EC need to have a broader consultation, bring stakeholders on board,” she said.
Ms. Addo further called for the EC to reconsider its approach, including suspending the planned rerun until there has been clarity and consensus.
“I think it will be helpful. You see, EC went to Parliament for how long? Just came out and said they have decided to go back for rerun and then there’s even a date,” she noted.
She also questioned the Commission’s inconsistent approach in handling the matter and said that clarity from the courts should have been sought much earlier.
[embedded content]“I thought that the EC’s own inconsistencies were not helpful, and I thought that seven months, if they were coming up, we should have a clear direction, and they should have been the first to go to court for direction, instead of coming up with something for the NPP to go back to court.”
When asked why the EC should go to court despite having the constitutional mandate to conduct elections, she responded, “They have the power but why did NPP go to court in the first place?
“These are issues that you don’t just get. Using scan copies to collate results, it’s not in any of the procedures. It was built on consensus… So if you are not consistent with some of these arrangements, you only resort to two parties, and there were no issues when the party agreed.”
She stressed that where consensus exists, the EC’s actions proceed without challenge. However, when disagreements arise, as seen in the current situation, seeking judicial clarity is crucial.
Ms. Addo added that more inclusive dialogue through structures like the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) must be prioritised.
“Consensus building is important. The EC must, even if they are going to go for a rerun, I think that they have to do much consultation and communication around it, and not take it for granted that people can just mobilise,” she said.
She also called on the Ghana Police Service to reassure the public of their readiness to maintain law and order in the event of heightened political tension.
“Most of the important issues have been resolved through IPAC… They shouldn’t just meet two parties. Bring stakeholders on board, and the decisions and agreements at IPAC, we should find a very good way of documenting them, getting agreements signed, something binding. This is something we’ve been calling for, that IPAC should be institutionalised.”
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