We won't subscribe to self-serving reforms – NDC warns
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has agreed in principle that electoral reforms ought to be considered when it becomes necessary.
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The party, however, says it will not subscribe to any self-serving prescriptions which would create more problems and undermine the sanctity of the 1992 Constitution.
According to the NDC, it was fully aware that no perfect electoral system existed anywhere in the world and had observed that Ghana’s electoral system had seen incremental reforms since 1992.
A press statement signed by Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of NDC, said the electoral system had evolved into one of the most credible, transparent and innovative in the world.
It said the reforms had come about through consensus building and cordial discussions among various stakeholders and it was within those time-tested arrangements that the current discussions about those matters ought to be conducted.
It, therefore, cautioned organisations which periodically served as disguised mouthpieces for the NPP and sought to ram unworkable propositions and demands down the throats of Ghanaians to refrain from doing so.
The statement said the NDC was determined to ensure the preservation of state institutions and respect for the Constitution.
‘’We are constrained to intervene in the ongoing discussion within certain quarters about the future of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission and electoral reforms after the judgement of the Supreme Court in the election petition case,” the statement stressed.
According to it, following the judgement, the New Patriotic Party and its many surrogates had continued with their campaign of lies and vilification against the Electoral Commission and its Chairman, Dr Afari Gyan.
The statement said they had sought to use this campaign to deflect justifiable criticisms from their supporters over the massive deception they engaged in which had been exposed by the outcome of the election petition case.
They had in the process , the statement said, made many untenable demands on the Electoral Commission.
“We first wish to condemn the calls by the NPP and its affiliate groups for the resignation or dismissal of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission.
“These calls are utterly irresponsible and must be dismissed as they have no foundation in the 1992 Constitution which grants the Electoral Commission independence and absolute protection from interference,’’ the statement emphasised.
It urged the Electoral Commission and indeed the general public to disregard those calls because they were motivated by sour grapes from faring badly in the elections of 2012 and the frivolous petition they filed at the Supreme Court.
According to the statement, Dr Afari Gyan is an honourable statesman whose excellent academic and professional credentials are beyond reproach.
The statement said for over two decades, Dr Afari Gyan had dedicated his services to mother Ghana as Chairman of the Electoral Commission and called for a show of gratitude and not the crude, appalling insults being hurled at him by the NPP and its agents.
“The Supreme Court, in dismissing all six issues brought before it, has vindicated Dr Afari Gyan and completely exonerated him from the vicious falsehoods levelled by the former flag bearer and leadership of the NPP to the effect that he had colluded with President Mahama and the NDC to steal votes,” the statement noted.
On the issue of electoral reforms, the statement said the NDC had noted attempts by former President Kufuor to stampede the Electoral Commission into ceding its powers to unauthorised bodies.
The statement urged President Kufuor not to join the unwholesome chorus by stating that reforms of the electoral system should not be led by the Electoral Commission and rather call to order persons within the NPP who had made Dr Afari Gyan the butt of insults and abuse.
‘’We have also taken note of further unconstitutional moves by the NPP to force out Dr Afari Gyan and compel President Mahama to appoint a successor of their choosing,” the statement noted.
This latest effort, according to the statement, was captured in a letter written to the Council of State urging them to consult parties in their advice to the President on who he should appoint as Dr Afari Gyan’s successor.
According to the statement, the Constitution explicitly vests the power to appoint Electoral Commissioners in the President in consultation with the Council of State.
“Nowhere in the Constitution is room made for consultations and deliberations with political parties on the matter.
“We in the NDC wish to serve notice that we will neither allow nor permit a rollback of all the gains made since the return to constitutional rule through violations designed to placate disgruntled losers in an election,” the statement emphasised.
“It is important for all political parties to respect the provisions of the constitution which embodies the spirit and aspirations of the people of this country,” it concluded.
Daily Graphic/Ghana