Govt urged to maintain independence of Electoral Commission

The Government has been called upon to ensure that the sanctity and independence of the Electoral Commission (EC) was maintained to sustain the country's democracy.

Mr Samuel Yorko Aidoo, Acting National Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of the Commission, said any attempt either wittingly or otherwise to compromise on these would darken the democratic path and confuse everybody.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the first biennial general meeting of the association in Kumasi. Mr Aidoo said as a corporate institution that held great promise for sustainable democracy, it should be given every needed support and sympathy to enable it to execute its constitutional obligations with credit.

In spite of the negative perceptions of some sections of the public and the supposed imperfections of the Commission, "It is the same Commission that has earned for mother Ghana, high approval rating as far as credible elections are concerned", he noted.

The Acting National Chairman appealed to the Commission as a governance institution to leave no stone unturned in an effort to continue to attract and maintain quality human resource.

Its human resource policies should be made to conform to best practices to eliminate rivalry and unhealthy competition among staff members.

Mr Aidoo spoke of the need to improve on the administrative mechanisms of the EC to enhance amicably resolution of conflicts. He gave the assurance that the association would continue to be committed to the vision of creating peaceful and harmonious atmosphere to advance the cause of the Commission.

Mr S. K. Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, in an address read for him, urged political parties and civil society to support the EC and help it to continue to conduct credible elections. "This is because the success of Ghana's democratic process largely depends on nothing but credible elections."

Mr Boafo told members of the Commission to work towards establishing close collaboration with the association to help push the EC's agenda. "The reality in our modern day management system is that we do not only have to empower our workers in the entire process of governance but we need to equally allow their voices to be heard on almost all other pertinent issues of concern to our institutions and establishments."