Embrace policies that will create inclusiveness – Charlotte Osei to EC
Former Electoral Commissioner, Charlotte Osei in expressing her views on new reforms regarding Ghana’s elections stated that the Commission should embrace any policy or reform that creates a new avenue for inclusiveness and transparency in Ghana’s electoral processes.
“Any policy or reforms that widen the space, that creates a new avenue for inclusiveness, that creates an avenue for transparency should be embraced,” she stated.
Reminiscing some of her memories of her tenure as EC boss, she said she is not sure she has any regret at the commission.
“I am not sure I have any regret at the EC.”
But she stated that there are things she wanted to do while in office and she will love to see such reforms carried out.
“I think that there were things I wanted to do, some internal administrative reforms I would have loved to see.”
However, Political Science lecturer, Prof Ransford Gyampo, does not agree with the Electoral Commission’s directive to the NDC to present its proposals on electoral reforms to IPAC.
The senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon said the Inter-Party Advisory Committee is not the appropriate forum for such proposals.
“EC must receive [the proposals] first then…send it to IPAC. It is not the right directive to the political party. IPAC is not a legally binding body, has no law backing. It is not the right directive to the NDC. It is a misdirection,” Prof Gyampo said on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana on Thursday, August 12.
The opposition NDC presented 34 electoral reforms to the EC as part of efforts to improve the country’s electoral architecture. The Electoral Commission then directed the NDC, the main opposition party in Ghana, to submit all its electoral proposals to the IPAC.
According to the EC, it does not deal with individual political parties and IPAC is thus the right forum.
Meanwhile, the NDC has also faulted IPAC as ineffective since the current Jean Mensa-led EC has failed to incorporate suggestions at meetings into its activities.
Included in NDC’s reforms is a proposal to make decisions taken at IPAC meetings binding on the EC and also the appointment of EC Commissioners to get parliamentary approval.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
