Former Senior UN Governance Advisor, Prof. Baffuor Agyeman-Duah

Former UN Senior Advisor on Governance, Professor Baffuor Agyeman-Duah, has expressed concern over the growing trend of replacing heads of the Electoral Commission (EC) whenever there is a change of government in Ghana.

He described this practice as a significant threat to the country’s democratic stability.

Speaking at the Ghana Speaks 2024 High Level Forum, organized by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Professor Agyeman-Duah highlighted the impeachment of Charlotte Osei, the former EC President, as an example of this recurring problem.

Mrs. Osei was ousted following the victory of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2016 elections, and now the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which opposed her ouster at the time, has threatened to replace the current President of the EC, Jean Mensa. , if they win the 2024 elections.

Professor Agyeman-Duah warned that this cycle of sacking EC chiefs with each new administration is dangerous and undermines the integrity of the electoral process.

“The suspicions are still there,” he remarked, referring to the perception that EC leaders are politically biased due to their appointment by the president.

He added that frequent changes in leadership of the EC threaten public confidence in the impartiality of the body and undermine the stability of Ghana’s governance.

He urged political parties to break this pattern, stressing the importance of maintaining continuity and impartiality within the Electoral Commission.

Drawing on examples from Western democracies, Professor Agyeman-Duah argued that EC leadership transitions in these countries are less politicized, thereby ensuring the stability and credibility of their electoral systems.

He also called for a review of the current process of appointing EC leaders in Ghana.

“The president is not obliged to appoint,” he said, arguing for alternative methods that would prevent any perception of bias and ensure the independence of the EC. Professor Agyeman-Duah stressed that learning from other democracies could help preserve the integrity of elections in Ghana.

The academic highlighted the ease with which EC heads can currently be removed from office, explaining that a single request to the president can lead to a process initiated by the chief justice, which could result in the dismissal of the EC president .

He warned that this process undermines the democratic system and called for reforms to ensure that future changes at the head of the EC are not driven by political interests.

Professor Agyeman-Duah’s remarks highlight the urgent need for Ghana to address the politicization of its Electoral Commission, as the country prepares for the 2024 general elections.