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Buem MP and former National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams has accused President Akufo-Addo of packing the Electoral Commission (EC) with known members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
On Monday, President Akufo-Addo swore in Dr Peter Appiahene, Salima Ahmed Tijani and Rev Akua Ofori Boateng as new members of the commission.
Pictures have since gone viral alleging in particular Dr Peter Appiahene as a patron of the NPP’s tertiary institutions wing, TESCON, specifically at the University of Energy and Natural Resources.
Speaking to JoyNews, Kofi Adams warned that whatever President Akufo-Addo intends to achieve with such appointments will not be realised.
“If it is the plan that they break the 8 that they are talking about, this is part of the scheme of things to pack the Electoral Commission which should be independent, with party apparatchiks then they should change their mind,” he said.
The Buem MP is calling on civil society and other well-meaning Ghanaians to rise against such appointments which have the tendency of undermining the credibility of the EC.
“As journalists, religious leaders, and civil societies we must be concerned that there are some institutions that we call them independent bodies and right from the commencement of this very 4th Republic, all Presidents we have had have worked hard to keep such institutions as much as possible away from partisanship,” he said.
However, he noted that the current government has desecrated the independent institutions including the EC, and “have arranged to pack it with known NPP activists.
He cited the appointment of the Deputy Chair of the Electoral Commission, Dr Bossman Asare as an example to buttress his point.
According to him, although they may have the requisite qualification, their partisan association should bar them from occupying such sensitive positions.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has expressed his confidence in the appointment of the three newly sworn-in EC members.
President Akufo-Addo asked the Electoral Commission (EC) not to be deterred by criticisms against it as part of its work.
According to the President, criticisms are part of the country’s democracy and cannot be dismissed.
He asked the electoral management body to focus its efforts on the expectations of Ghanaians.
“Remember that now and ever, every single decision you take will be scrutinized to the letter. That, however, should not scare you and let no one try to coerce you into submission.
“On the contrary, let this expectation of the Ghanaian people spur you onto great heights and above all, work to ensure that the will of the Ghanaian people is upheld.”
