PPP wants EC Commissioners to step aside

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has called on the Commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC) to step aside as the various allegations and counter allegations being flung between the Chair Charlotte Osei and her deputies are duly investigated.

Mrs Osei has been accused by her staff of fraud and financial malfeasance. They have petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo for her removal as well as sent a similar to the Economic and Organised Crime Office asking for investigations into Mrs Osei's stewardship.

Responding to the EOCO petition, Mrs Osei denied any acts of fraud or financial malfeasance on her part and counter-alleged fraud and corruption against her accusers.

The PPP in a statement issued on Monday described the current allegations and counter allegations by the Commissioners as worrying. “We, therefore, advise that all the Commissioners must willingly offer to step aside.”.

According to the PPP, the EC is one of the most sensitive institutions in the country and “we cannot, therefore, allow these allegations to fester unduly. The potential for these to disturb the peace which we are currently enjoying in this country is immense. We believe the issues raised in the allegations are serious enough to merit further interrogation.”

The PPP noted that the allegation of unilateral decisions taken by Commissioners in matters involving the future lives of Ghanaians without recourse to the larger Commission is dangerous. It also said matters of financial malfeasance against the public purse by Commissioners should not be overlooked.

“The Commissioners should, therefore, voluntarily step aside or be compelled to step aside in order to begin the process to clean up the quagmire which has apparently now engulfed the institution charged with the responsibility for ensuring the peaceful transitions and dynamics of our chosen governance systems,” the statement noted.

The PPP further urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to take due cognisance of what the constitution allows in these matters (relating to such petitions) and to apply it without fear or favour adding that any half-hearted efforts by Mr Akufo-Addo perceived as designed to delay the constitutional course as laid down, “will send unwanted signals to the chagrin of law-abiding Ghanaians, who feel let down by the rot in which the EC Commissioners themselves have told us they now wallow in.”

The party further implored Ghanaians to resist the attempts by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to politicise this matter.