Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with keen interest in the just-ended 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections have described as unacceptable, the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to recess for a month amid the political impasse following its declaration of the election results.
According to the CSOs, given the current post-elections context and the matters arising – some of which might require the EC’s attention – it is imprudent for the EC to be shutting down at this critical moment, and that also without any clarification to the public of the alternative arrangements that have been put in place.
The assertion by the CSOs follows a circular signed by the Deputy Chair (Corporate Services) of the EC, Dr Bossman E. Asare, suggesting that the Electoral Commission
(EC) may be going on recess from 23rd December 2020 to 19th January 2021.
“We further call on the EC to review its decision on its intended one-month long leave, and assure Ghanaians that until these matters are resolved, the leadership of the Commission will be on duty to discharge its responsibilities fully,” demanded the CSOs.
The CSOs also noted with concern the prohibition of some members of the Minority in Parliament from submitting a petition to the EC by security personnel on Wednesday, December 23, 2020, stating that the EC must activate mechanisms for inclusive stakeholder dialogue as part of its electoral management process.
The EC chaired by Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, on December 9, 2020, declared incumbent President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as winner and president-elect of the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
President Akufo-Addo won by a total of 6,730,413 votes, representing 51.3 per cent of total votes cast whereas is his opponent, former President John Dramani Mahama polled 6,214,889 votes being 47.36 per cent of total votes cast.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has however, rejected the results declared by the EC claiming vote tallies by the party indicate the NDC has won the presidential elections and majority seats in Parliament.
Supporters of the NDC have on several occasions thronged to the EC’s headquarters to demand for an annulment of the declaration of President Akufo-Addo as winner and president-elect of the presidential election.
Read below a press statement by the CSOs on the EC’s recess:
CSOS Statement – Addressing the Current Post-Elections Political Impasse (004) by Fuaad Dodoo on Scribd
