EC has become an annex of the NPP – Sammy Gyamfi

The National Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that the Electoral Commission (EC) has become an annex of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mr. Sammy Gyamfi described the development as unacceptable.

Mr Gyamfi’s comment comes on the back of President Akufo-Addo swearing in Dr Peter Appiahene, Salima Ahmed Tijani and Rev Akua Ofori Boateng as new members of the Electoral Commission on Monday.

Pictures have since gone viral suggesting that Dr Peter Appiahene, in particular, is a patron of TESCON at the University of Energy and Natural Resources.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s  on Tuesday, Mr Gyamfi condemned the appointment.

He said the NDC is totally disgusted by the continuous bastardisation of independent constitutional bodies like the Electoral Commission by President Akufo-Addo.

“We all know that the Electoral Commission is an independent constitutional body; it is supposed to be neutral and so when you have the President appointing known NPP apparatchiks, and activists into the highest positions in the Commission, that amounts to bastardisation of a once-revered state institution.

“The Electoral Commission now has become an annex or a wing of the ruling NPP,” he told Evans Mensah.

According to him, the appointments made by the President have totally destroyed the little credibility of the Electoral Commission left.

He, therefore, stated that “we want to join forces with civil societies and other well-meaning Ghanaians to push for the necessary reforms in the composition of our once revered body.”

But, reacting to the concerns raised, the National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye stated that with all the red flags raised about the President’s appointment, “I have not seen anybody raise issues on illegality, unconstitutionality.”

This he said is because the appointment is in line with the 1992 Constitution, adding that the candidates have the requisite qualifications.

According to him, the issues raised by the NDC “are the same old shouts from the rooftop anytime these appointments are made.”

“I recall that when Dr Bossman was appointed, similar shouts came from the opposition. It appears that it is the same chorus they are following.”

He, however, stated that he cannot confirm if Dr Peter Appiahene is a TESCON patron.