A political scientist with the University of Ghana says the only way to salvage the “dented” image of the EC in the raging controversy, is for it to be dissolved and reconstituted.
Dr Bossman Asare said the trade of accusations and counter-accusations between the ECChair, Charlotte Osei and one of her deputies ,Georgina Opoku Amankwaah, point to deep cracks within the Commission.
He told Israel Laryea on Joy FM’s Midday News Tuesday, Ghanaians may “end up getting value for money if the EC is reconstituted.”
Head of University of Ghana Political Science Department, Dr Bossman Asare
The EC Chair is battling with a petition filed against her by some ‘Concerned Staff’ of the Commission which seeks to cause her impeachment.
In the petition submitted to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the aggrieved workers accused Mrs Osei of administrative incompetence, blatant breaches of the procurement law and poor working relationship with the staff.
The President is studying the petition for onward submission to the Chief Justice as directed by the Constitution, the Flagstaff House has said.
EC boss, Mrs Osei and her deputy in charge of Corporate Services, Ms Opoku Amankwaah
But what started as a Constitutional process turned a media battle when in her response to the petition, Mrs Osei roped in Ms Opoku Amankwaah accusing her of attempting to usurp her [Osei] powers.
The Deputy Commissioner has been interdicted by anti-graft agency, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over the missing of GHS480,000 from the Commission’s Endowment Fund.
The two have had a reported frosty relationship since Mrs Osei’s appointment as the head of the EC in June, 2015.
Georgina Opoku Amankwaah in her response to all 25 claims made against her said challenges facing the Commission are the result of the “unbridled desire to wield power and control” ambition of the EC boss.
“I wish to state that the twenty-five points allegations are laced with absolute falsehood and also full of over-stretched half-truths,” she said.
The media battle between the top EC officers has triggered calls by some political parties and civil society groups for a full-scale investigation to be undertaken.
Wading in the matter, the political scientist said any decision to maintain Mrs Osei as the head of the body will be fatal.
“During Dr Afari Gyan [former EC boss] we didn’t hear about this internal wrangling [but] all of a sudden they cannot work together,” Dr Asare said.
He said the country will be better off without Mrs Osei as the head of the electoral body.
Having been recognized as one of the best electoral bodies in Africa, the political science lecturer said the best was expected of the Commissioners but they have failed.
“Let’s get it reconstituted so that we can move on as a country,” Dr Asare suggested.
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