The President should not have the power to appoint the EC chairperson – Movement for Change communication officer

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Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission
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A member of the Communications Team of the Movement for Change Dr. Ramzi Inusah has raised concerns about the missing laptops for election.

According to him, both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are the creation of the challenges confronting Ghana elections.

“The NPP and NDC are the creation of this problem because they have enabled the constitution to favor them when they get to power,” asserted Dr. Inusah in an interview with Helen Appiah-Ampofo on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on March 21.

He highlighted the issue of political interference in the appointment of key constitutional bodies, such as the Electoral Commissioner (EC), which undermines their independence and fosters mistrust among citizens.

“If you are in power, and you have the right to appoint an electoral commissioner, which the EC should be an independent constitutional body, then there is an issue here. That is where the mistrust comes in,” Dr. Inusah explained.

He emphasized the need for genuine bipartisan efforts to address these systemic flaws in governance. Dr. Inusah suggested that the current uproar over issues like the anti-LGBTQ legislation should also prompt discussions on broader constitutional reforms.
“Just as the honorable Sam George advocates for the anti-LGBTQ legislation, I believe that if he would also champion the cause for constitutional reform in this regard, it will serve a better good for this country,” he proposed.

Central to his argument is the call to strip the President of the power to appoint key officials such as the EC chairperson. He advocated for parliamentary oversight in such appointments to ensure impartiality and accountability.

“The president should not have the power to appoint the EC chairperson,” Dr. Inusah emphasized. “We need to amend these provisions in the constitution to entrust Parliament to appoint such leadership as far as our independent bodies are concerned.”

Dr. Inusah concluded by urging a fundamental reevaluation of Ghana’s governance framework, advocating for reforms that would promote transparency, efficiency, and accountability in government appointments and operations.

By Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi