Hannah Tetteh on why EC needs review to ensure public trust

Former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West Constituency in the Central Region, Hannah Serwaa Tetteh, has argued that the Electoral Commission needs a review to ensure public trust.

According to her, that review ought to be a comprehensive review to help rebuild public trust and ensure the credibility of future elections. 

The former MP on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was speaking with the media at the NDC’s Youth Wing Thanksgiving Service in Accra on Sunday (December 22, 2024).

She is currently the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU).

She called for reforms to ensure that the EC maintains its role as a neutral arbiter in Ghana’s democratic process.

“A thorough review is needed to identify changes. This is not just about people but about strengthening the EC as an institution. Right now, public trust is at its lowest,” Ms Tetteh stated.

Ms Tetteh, also expressed concern about the EC’s recent posture and engagement with stakeholders, describing its approach as lacking transparency and neutrality. 

Ms Tetteh, who also served as Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister during President Mahama’s tenure between 2013 and 2016, emphasised the need for the Electoral Commission to do a self-assessment and learn from past experiences to strengthen its role. 

Ms Tetteh said “What has happened over time, not just in one day is that the way the EC has engaged has not allowed people to have confidence in their objectivity and neutrality,” she said. 

Reset 

The Head of UNOAU stressed the need for the EC to reset its approach and also expressed concern about how its credibility would impact future elections if reforms are not made.

“The commission needs to reset its approach. Without this reset, I fear for how the public will perceive its neutrality and competence in upcoming elections,” she added.

Ms Tetteh advocated for the commission to collaborate with external bodies and political parties through platforms such as the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to guide the reform process.

“This is not a process they should undertake on their own. Institutions should function with external inputs, and this must be done in consultation with political parties. The goal is to retain and enhance public confidence in their operations,” she added.

Youth activism

Answering a question on whether she would serve in the next NDC administration, the Head of UNOAU did not give an emphatic response about her role in the next government.

However, she urged the next Mahama-led administration to give opportunity to the youth to serve in government.

"I think it's appropriate that we allow another generation to also take the lead," Ms Tetteh stated.

Ms Tetteh expressed excitement seeing a lot of young people at the thanksgiving service; saying that, "a party that does not have an active youth does not have a future; and it's important that, that pipeline of leadership is also created".

The Head of UNOAU indicated that the state of the victory also suggested that the party should make its best effort not to betray the youth. 
She described the win as a vote of confidence and expression of trust in the NDC which must translate into bringing the needed transformation and prosperity of the country.