The National Democratic Congress, NDC, has recommended that the appointment of Electoral Commissioners be subject to legislative approval as part of 34 recommendations to the Electoral Commission (EC).
The present appointment mechanism, according to the party, makes the EC look biased.
The NDC stated in the proposal that the nomination of Supreme Court Justices “with comparable essential requirements” requires parliamentary approval.
The remaining suggestions dealt with law enforcement, media coverage, the legal status of the Intra Party Advisory Committee, and the EC’s organization.
By modifying the Political Parties Act, 2000, Act 574, it proposed dividing the EC into two distinct bodies: an Office for the Regulation of Political Parties (ORPP) and an Electoral Commission.
The NDC singled out the Chairperson of the EC, claiming that the post should not be filled exclusively by the President, who is often a candidate.
The party also wants to do away of the need that the AG’s approval be obtained before any election offences be prosecuted.
It justified the outcome by citing a clause utilized by police as a reason for not prosecuting high-profile electoral offence cases.
The party said that this fosters a culture of impunity and affects the fairness and legitimacy of Ghanaian elections.
Furthermore, it was suggested that special courts be established only for electoral disputes and offences before to, during, and after voter registration and elections.
It also wants the EC to be required by law to apply to the courts to have the names of the dead and other ineligible individuals removed off the temporary register when the appropriate authorities notify it.
The proposals were compiled by a group of specialists headed by Nana Ato Dadzie, the former Chief of Staff, and Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, the former Foreign Affairs Minister.
The NDC said that the suggestions were based on alleged faults in the 2020 election, which sparked a presidential election appeal after President Akufo-election Addo’s win was disputed by John Mahama.
To discuss the ideas further, the NDC has stated it would meet with labor unions, religious groups, the National Peace Council, the National House of Chiefs, and the Diplomatic Community.
The suggestions of the NDC may be found here.
Source: CITINEWSROOM
