2004 Review: Afari-Gyan- ?Person of the Year?

News Media of the Year: Ghanaian Chronicle
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) has been named Ghanaweb?s 2004 Person of the Year.

Afari-Gyan worked tirelessly to ensure a reasonably free, fair and credible election. A patient man, who hardly waivers under pressure, he was about the only state official, in 2004 that promised and delivered on time.

The Electoral body, he heads, adopted electoral mechanism that ensured credible voters register, effective education and sensitization of all stakeholders. The transparency of the whole electoral process, not withstanding the isolated irregularities, made the Ghanaian electoral system a beacon of hope for democratic development in Africa bedeviled with electoral disputes. The conduct of the elections sent a signal to the international community that democracy is actually taking root in Ghana.

The EC?s show of positive defiance by rejecting an attempt by government to usurp the powers of the EC in the procurement of electoral materials and the issue of citizenship identity cards solidified the commission as an independent body. Failure would have created a perception of manipulation of the electoral process by the government.

?The EC responded to all the allegations made by the [opposition] NDC, both in the way it conceded on some of the gaps noticed by NDC and in the manner it held its own grounds on other aspects of its preparations. I am familiar with many of these allegations as a Ghanaian resident and felt the EC did a good job of demonstrating its independence.? - Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Centre for Democracy and Development

In these times of grave ?election problems? abroad - Ukraine needed a ?triple take?, Uzbekistan conducted an "oppositionless" election ? Afari-Gyan?s team navigated the stormy waters of the elections with strength, focus, and certainty producing in the process an election better than what transpired in USA.

We debated giving the award to others including: Patrick G. Awuah, Jr., (Ashesi University Founder), Rudolf Amenga-Etego (2004 winner of Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa), the Ghanaian voter - for exhibiting maturity during the presidential and parliamentary elections, Azumah Nelson ?inducted into the boxing hall of fame and President Kufuor.

Previous winners

1997: Kofi Annan
1998: Ghanaians in Diaspora
1999: Kofi Annan
2000: Jerry John Rawlings
2001: The Ghanaian
2002: John Kufuor
2003: Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson

All the 2004 Awards