EC appointment: Akufo-Addo is taking us back to the old days – Jantuah

Private legal practitioner Kwame Jantuah has said that kind of appointment that has been done to the Electoral Commission (EC) by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo takes the country back to the old days when politically-exposed persons were selected to head the commission.

Mr Jantuah who is a member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) said on the Big Issue on TV3 Friday, March 24 that “The President is taking us back to the days of my father, he should be taking us forward.”

But a member of the communications team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Awala Mohammed responded to him that the persons who have been appointed to the Electoral Commission (EC) are not politically-exposed persons.

He explained that although one of the appointees, Dr Peter Appiahene’s commentaries have fallen in line with the NPP, he is not a politician.

“He is not a politician like myself,” Awal said on the Big Issue on TV3 Friday, March 24.

Leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) including the Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams are accusing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of appointing known activists of NPP to sensitive positions in the country such as the EC.

Mr Kofi Adams 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 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.”