The attention must be focused on strengthening the electoral system in Ghana and not on who is appointed to the Electoral Commission (EC), the Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Richard Ahiagbah has said.
He stated that history has shown that persons who were affiliated to political parties were appointed to the EC but that did not affect the outcome of the elections.
His comments come at a time leading members of the NDC are accusing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of appointing known activists of the NPP to sensitive positions in the country such as the EC.
For instance Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams also stated on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Tuesday, March 21 that one of the newly-appointed persons to the EC, Dr Peter Appiahene was a known NPP activist who is a member of the communications team of the party in the Bono Region.
“Clearly, there is everything wrong with the persons the president has appointed. The President has appointed known activists of the NPP,” he said.
“President Akufo-Addo has been appointing persons known to be NPP activists, we saw the Bossman Asares and the Jean Mensas.
“Dr Peter Appiahene is known NPP activist in the Bono Region, he is a member of the NPP communications team in the Bono region,” he added.
Mr Akufo-Addo on Monday, March 20 swore in three new members of the EC.
The three new members – Dr Peter Appiahene, Madam Salima Ahmed Tijani and Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng – were sworn in at a short ceremony at the Jubilee House.
But speaking in an interview with Martin Asiedu Darteh on the mid day news on TV3 Thursday, April 6, Mr Ahiagbah also said that the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Joseph Whittal is a known member of the NDC).
He said “This is the established fact, this is a 2016 fact that is proven” that Joseph Whittal is a member of the NDC.
“History tells us that people who are affiliated to political parties have been appointed to the EC and that did not do anything to change the electoral outcome and so our focus should be on how we strengthen our electoral system. So the call to say an individual who has not been proven to be an NPP person, I am not sure if you are asking them to prove it they can,” he stressed.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana