In a recent turn of events, the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has vehemently denied allegations put forth by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, regarding the appointment of Returning Officers for the impending 2024 polls.
Mahama, in an interview at the London School of Economics and Political Science, accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of orchestrating biased appointments within the EC, alleging that NPP members were preferentially selected as Returning Officers. Additionally, he expressed concerns over the impartiality of the EC in the forthcoming elections, claiming that the election management body had solicited names of NPP members from Members of Parliament (MPs) and District Chief Executives (DCEs) during the recruitment process.
However, these accusations were promptly refuted by Fred Tetteh, the Deputy Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the EC. Tetteh, in a statement released on April 25, condemned Mahama’s claims, highlighting the former president’s own involvement in similar practices during his tenure.
The EC clarified that the recruitment process for Returning Officers and their Deputies was conducted with utmost fairness and transparency, directly contradicting Mahama’s assertions. Tetteh emphasized that the Commission had invited all interested Ghanaians to apply for the positions, with no bias towards any political affiliation.
“The Commission rejects this unfounded allegation coming from the former President,” stated Tetteh. “The process of recruiting Returning Officers and their Deputies was conducted in an open, fair, and transparent manner.”
The EC further elaborated on the recruitment process, revealing that a total of 20,561 applications were received following the publication of vacancy announcements in the Daily Graphic on February 5, 2024. An in-house committee was established to shortlist suitable applicants for interviews, ensuring that all successful candidates had no less than eight years of working experience with the Commission as Temporal Election Officials.
This robust rebuttal by the EC underscores its commitment to upholding integrity and impartiality in the electoral process, reassuring the Ghanaian populace of a fair and transparent election come polling day. As the nation gears up for the 2024 polls, the EC’s stance serves as a testament to its unwavering dedication to democracy and electoral justice.
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