NDC member, Alhassan Suhuyini has argued that President John Dramani Mahama could have used merit-based appointments to strengthen perceptions of neutrality at the Electoral Commission (EC), rather than relying on political balance.

Suhuyini said there were different ways to ensure that appointments to the commission did not undermine public confidence, including selecting technocrats with the necessary expertise and qualifications.

“In appointments, you have ways of ensuring balance, ensuring neutrality,” he said on Newsfile on Joy News. “You have partisan balance appointments. It’s allowed. You have technocrats and merit-based appointments.”

He said the President could have chosen the technocratic and merit-based approach to help project the EC as an impartial institution.

“The president could have done that rather than partisan balance,” Suhuyini said.

His comments came amid criticism of Mahama’s appointment of two people to fill vacancies on the commission. Suhuyini said the debate reflected the need for appointments that could command confidence beyond party lines.

He acknowledged that partisan balance was one available approach but maintained that selecting people on merit and professional competence could help improve perceptions of the commission’s independence over time.

Suhuyini said future presidents would also have a role in improving the standard of appointments, with each administration expected to build on efforts to strengthen the institution’s neutrality.

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