Alhassan Suhuyini, the member of parliament for Tamale North and Deputy Roads Minister, has boldly told President John Dramani Mahama to use merit-based appointments to strengthen perceptions of neutrality at the Electoral Commission (EC).
According to the NDC MP, President Mahama could have used technocrats, not partisans, to balance the EC.
He argued that there were different ways to ensure that appointments to the commission did not undermine public confidence, noting that selecting technocrats with the necessary expertise and qualifications could have done that.
Speaking on NewsFile on Joy News, Alhassan Suhuyini stated, “In appointments, you have ways of ensuring balance, ensuring neutrality. You have partisan balance appointments. It’s allowed. You have technocrats and merit-based appointments.”
“The president could have done that rather than partisan balance,” Suhuyini said.
The NDC MP, however, acknowledged that partisan balance was one available approach but maintained that selecting people on merit and professional competence could help improve perceptions of the commission’s independence.
According to Suhuyini, Ghana’s future presidents would also have a role in improving the standard of appointments, with each administration expected to build on efforts to strengthen the institution’s neutrality.
Also, Professor Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, a governance analyst, has slammed the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, over his comments claiming the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) was intended to balance political representation.
Prof Agyemang-Duah argued that Felix Kwakye Ofosu’s comments could undermine the independence of the Electoral Commission.
According to Prof Agyemang-Duah, mistakes made by previous administrations should not be repeated.
Speaking on TV3 KeyPoint, Prof Agyemang-Duah stated, “I think my earlier comments referred to that kind of argument. The fact is, the EC is an independent body. The Constitution does not require that we balance membership on a political party basis. No, it’s independent. That’s why I referred earlier, if you recall, to those who are arguing that there are many NPP sympathisers.
“They mentioned names, but there’s no need to mention them here. And therefore, this one appointment is simply seeking to balance the scales in terms of membership of those who are so-called politically exposed. No, that’s why I’m saying we shouldn’t go through this circular argument of ‘You did it, I’m doing it. You did it, I’m balancing it with this.’ Look, we don’t commit two mistakes to ensure that one right is done. No, if the first one was a mistake, we should simply not repeat it. So I do not buy that argument that this is a balancing act,” he said.
He further added, “Not at all. So that’s a defeatist kind of argument. It’s not proper, and I appeal to those who are making that kind of statement, especially from higher levels, because that kind of argument is dangerous for us. If the foot soldiers are making those kinds of arguments, I won’t quibble so much because we know how they talk”.
Their comment comes on the heels of Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu saying the government wanted an NDC member on the Electoral Commission to “tilt the balance” of its composition.
According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have orchestrated an agenda against the appointment of Emelia Afi Agenyo.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu argued that he is willing to challenge members of the NPP, highlighting that the party, while in office, appointed individuals affiliated with the party to positions at the Electoral Commission.
The Government Communications Minister also disclosed that the appointment of Emelia Afi Agenyo is also part of President Mahama’s reset agenda, arguing that her appointment was intended to balance what he described as NPP appointments at the Electoral Commission.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu admitted that “tilting the balance” meant appointing a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
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