MP criticizes Council of State for endorsing appointment of politically exposed persons to the EC

The Member of Parliament for Buem Kofi Adams has criticized the Council of State for giving the President the go-ahead to appoint politically exposed persons to the Electoral Commission (EC).

Mr Adams accused President Akufo-Addo of appointing known activists of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to sensitive positions including the elections management body.

He expressed his disappointment in the appointments while speaking on the Ghana Tonight Show on TV3 Tuesday, March 21.

He said “The Council of State who are supposed to be advising the president gave the go-ahead to make such an appointment. I am not just disappointed in the president but also the Council of State, they gave the go-ahead.”

Kofi Adams added that one of the newly-appointed persons to the EC, Dr Peter Appiahene is 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 Electoral Commission, Ghana (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.

Their appointment comes 21 months to the next major elections.

The President said “I have always fought for and advocated for a credible electoral process in Ghana.  In emphasizing the importance of the credibility of elections, it must be pointed out that the counting, collation and declaration of results cannot and should not be more important than the sacred God-given right of the citizen casting his or her ballot.

“I have said it before and I will repeat it, elections are about those who cast their vote, not those who count, not those who supervise, not those who transmit and not those who declare. The heart of the democratic process is giving effect to the choices made by those who cast the votes.”

Source: 3news.com