The independence of EC is well secured

Tamale, May 1, GNA - Mr David Adeendze Kangah, Deputy Chairman of Electoral Commission (EC) in charge of Finance and Administration has assured Ghanaians that independence of the commission was well secured to conduct credible elections in December.

He said "Ghana's Electoral Commission could not be manipulated to favour any political party or group of individuals since the Constitution empowered it with its independence and neutrality at all times. Personnel of the Commission would do everything possible to maintain its integrity by ensuring fairness in all elections". Mr Kangah gave the assurance in Tamale on Wednesday at the Northern Regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) Forum to build stakeholders' confidence in the outcome of the 2008 general elections. Leadership of registered political parties in the Northern Region and some media personnel attended the Electoral Commission-Friedrich-Ebert Foundation and KAB Governance Consult collaborative initiative.

Topics discussed included, "The inbuilt integrity of Ghana's Electoral Process", "The results and challenges of the replacements of lost Identity (ID) cards", "The forthcoming revision of the voters' registration exercise, expectations and challenges" and "Towards credible elections-our expectations of political parties". Mr Kangah said the Commission had since 1992 improved in election after election and Ghana's democracy was the envy of other African nations and would guard jealously against it by working to ensure that elections were always credible.

Mr Kangah therefore appealed to representatives of political parties to remain extra vigilant and monitor the voting process to ensure that their parties were not cheated and should not hesitate to report any suspected wrong doing to officials of EC for investigation. In addition, he appealed to the media particularly radio stations to use only authentic declared results during collation to avoid conflict of interest between political parties to ensure violent free elections in December.

Mr Ibrahim Tahiru, Programmes Coordinator of Friedrich-Ebert Foundation (FES), sponsors of the programme said it was necessary for the Ghanaian electorate to exercise restraint and help build the needed confidence in the EC to avoid the recurrence of "Kenya" situation in Ghana.

He said what was necessary in the conduct of free and fair elections was for the political parties and their activists and supporters to learn to accept defeat since there was bound to be only a winner and gave the assurance that FES would continue to provide funds to ensure peaceful elections in the country.

Mr Kwadwo Sarfo Katanka, Deputy Chairman of EC in charge of Operations said challenges facing the commission would not influence it to deviate from its main duties.

He said "elections were like the game of football, which when a team loses its supporters would not eat while the players themselves would dine and eat together" and advised politicians to help the EC to come out with credible elections in December.