Provide enabling environment for successful election - EC Staff

Tamale, Nov. 8, GNA - The Senior Staff Association of the Electoral Commission (EC) has called on the government and all political stakeholders to provide an enabling environment for the Commission to prepare for another successful elections in 2004

The Association explained that any agenda on the part of anybody to "criminalize" the Commission to appear discredited to conduct elections in 2004 was only providing a recipe for confusion. Mr Samuel Yorke Aidoo, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association, who made the call urged the EC to remain resolute and steadfast to the goal of ensuring good elections in 2004.

He was addressing member of the Association at its Biennial National Delegates Congress in Tamale on Saturday, which was on the theme: "Towards a credible and transparent 2004 elections - The role of motivated, competent and professional staff of the EC". He urged the EC to be proactive in its interaction with the public to put to "shame any destructive plans by its detractors" while it also keep faith with stakeholders including its staff to earn their protection and defence.

Mr Aidoo noted that in recent times, the EC had come under severe media attacks and attributed that to internal differences and attempts by some political activists to wage a media war against the EC. "The EC is a public institution and can be subjected to criticisms but that what is happening in the media of late, seem to suggest that there is a cynical scheme to criminalize the commission," he pointed out.

He called on the government to improve salaries and conditions of service of the staff, as well as provide residential and office accommodation for its senior staff and equipment and logistic to enhance quality job performance.

Mr Aidoo announced that the Association would established a credit union to cater for the socio-economic needs of its members while a monthly newsletter would be published to help bridge the information gap between the staff and management.

Mr Anthony Amedcakey, Sectary of the Association, said the current low salary levels had brought untold hardships to staff of the Commission, which has affected their job performance.