The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, has voiced concerns over the impartiality of the Electoral Commission (EC).
This follows the appointment of what he describes as “card-bearing members” of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the Commission.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Kwetey accused some EC leaders of harbouring a bias towards the ruling NPP, which he says compromises the commission’s neutrality.
“The point we are making is simply that, Electoral Commission, we do not trust you. By the very composition of your leadership, we believe that you have an agenda. You have a bias. We don’t trust you. And, therefore, if we don’t trust you, it means that we are going to ask you to watch every step very carefully,” Kwetey stated.
He noted that their distrust further worsened when the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) – a platform where major conversations with political parties are held – became a place no longer focused on consensus-building.
The NDC General Secretary stressed the need for the EC to demonstrate neutrality and earn the trust of the populace by operating as an independent, professional body.
He noted that transparency and fairness in the commission’s actions are crucial for rebuilding trust. “Your duty is to prove that you really can be neutral.”
Despite these concerns, Mr Kwetey acknowledged the EC’s recent efforts to rebuild consensus, which he believes is a positive step towards reinstating trust.
He mentioned that the NDC has rejoined IPAC meetings and is actively participating in discussions to improve collaboration with the EC.
“If you’re an Electoral Commission, conscious of the fact that your job is to be an independent, neutral, professional body, it’s your responsibility to want to make sure as much as for this consensus.
“We’re happy about the fact that effort is now being made to build that consensus. That’s where we used to be. Gradually, we are getting there,” Mr Kwetey added.
Source: myjoyonline.com
