Create platforms for dialogue if COVID-19 disrupts election schedules — Dr Chambas
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, has encouraged African nations to create platforms for dialogue and consensus building in the event that coronavirus (COVID-19) disrupts already laid down schedules and calenders for elections in some countries on the continent.
A number of African countries, including Ghana, are scheduled to go the polls before the end of the year, but with the coronavirus pandemic raging on across the continent, there are fears that some nations may have to postpone their elections.
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Dr Chambas made this known while addressing the Rotary Club of Accra, Airport, on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Africa and the world at large.
The Media/Communications Director of the Rotary Club of Accra, Airport, Mrs Baisiwa Dowuona-Hammond, told the Daily Graphic in Accra that Dr Chambas was responding to a question during a virtual address on what should be the ideal mode of filling a likely 'power vacuum' to be created if elections were not held as planned and the tenure of incumbents expired.
She said Dr Chambas in his response advocated strongly for dialogues.
In a country such as Cote d'Ivoire, it is clear that in the event that elections cannot be held for power to be handed over to an elected president, the incumbent can remain in power until such time when there is an elected official.
In other nations it is a matter of judicial interpretations and Dr Chambas pointed out that the Supreme Court would be in a better position to make a case for Ghana if elections were not held this year.
He said the issue of possible election disruptions had come up for discussion both at the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) levels.
The Special Representative revealed that efforts were being made to encourage dialogue and consensus building among political actors.
On constitutional provisions for power transfer in Africa and how that may play out if elections were not held due to COVID-19, he stated that succession plans were in place in the case of Ghana and “the Constitution makes provision for that.”
"In the case of Ghana, I think we have to go and look at the various provisions of succession in our constitution, which I believe are there. So I will not put myself in the position of Supreme Court and pronounce how that will go, but I think in our jurisdiction also a succession plan is there in the event that election is not held," he said.
Dr Chambas expressed confidence that Ghana would continue to show leadership in the democratic space in the sub-region even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.