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The
independence of EC is well secured - Kangah
Tamale, May 1, Ghanadot/GNA - Mr David Adeendze Kangah,
Deputy Chairman of Electoral Commission (EC) in charge of
Finance and Administration has assured Ghanaians that
independence of the commission was well secured to conduct
credible elections in December.
He said “Ghana's Electoral Commission could not be
manipulated to favour any political party or group of
individuals since the Constitution empowered it with its
independence and neutrality at all times. Personnel of the
Commission would do everything possible to maintain its
integrity by ensuring fairness in all elections”.
Mr Kangah gave the assurance in Tamale on Wednesday at the
Northern Regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC)
Forum to build stakeholders' confidence in the outcome of
the 2008 general elections.
Leadership of registered political parties in the Northern
Region and some media personnel attended the Electoral
Commission-Friedrich-Ebert Foundation and KAB Governance
Consult collaborative initiative.
Topics discussed included, "The inbuilt integrity of Ghana's
Electoral Process", "The results and challenges of the
replacements of lost Identity (ID) cards", "The forthcoming
revision of the voters' registration exercise, expectations
and challenges" and "Towards credible elections-our
expectations of political parties".
Mr Kangah said the Commission had since 1992 improved in
election after election and Ghana's democracy was the envy
of other African nations and would guard jealously against
it by working to ensure that elections were always credible.
Mr Kangah therefore appealed to representatives of political
parties to remain extra vigilant and monitor the voting
process to ensure that their parties were not cheated and
should not hesitate to report any suspected wrong doing to
officials of EC for investigation.
In addition, he appealed to the media particularly radio
stations to use only authentic declared results during
collation to avoid conflict of interest between political
parties to ensure violent free elections in December.
Mr Ibrahim Tahiru, Programmes Coordinator of Friedrich-Ebert
Foundation (FES), sponsors of the programme said it was
necessary for the Ghanaian electorate to exercise restraint
and help build the needed confidence in the EC to avoid the
recurrence of "Kenya" situation in Ghana.
He said what was necessary in the conduct of free and fair
elections was for the political parties and their activists
and supporters to learn to accept defeat since there was
bound to be only a winner and gave the assurance that FES
would continue to provide funds to ensure peaceful elections
in the country.
Mr Kwadwo Sarfo Katanka, Deputy Chairman of EC in charge of
Operations said challenges facing the commission would not
influence it to deviate from its main duties.
He said “elections were like the game of football, which
when a team loses its supporters would not eat while the
players themselves would dine and eat together” and advised
politicians to help the EC to come out with credible
elections in December.
GNA
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