Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otokunor says President Akufo-Addo’s undemocratic posture is the reason the party wants electoral reforms.
Speaking on Hello FM, he said it was never envisioned that a leader like Akufo-Addo would take over the reins of power and threaten the peace of the country at the time the constitution was being written.
The NDC proposed for Parliamentary approval of Commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC) as part of the party’s over thirty proposed recommendations for electoral reforms.
According to the party, the current mode of appointing Chairpersons of the electoral management body and its members appears partisan, arguing that representatives of the people must have a hand in the appointment.
“Chairperson of EC as Returning Officer of the presidential election must not be solely appointed by the President, who is often a candidate.”
To buttress its demand, the proposal cited the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) report that recommended the prior parliamentary approval for the appointment of the EC, and the government’s acceptance of the recommendation of the CRC report thereof.
Currently, the President upon the advice of the Council of State appoints Commissioners of the EC and the other members of the Commission, according to Article 70 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.
GhanaFeed.com