EC probe: NDC worried over Daily Guide’s interference

The main opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) has questioned the propriety of the continuous reportage by Daily Guide newspaper on the in camera work being done by the Commission of Enquiry probing the misconduct allegations against the EC Chairperson and some other commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC).

The NDC has blamed the NPP government for giving the Newspaper owned by the Acting Chairman of the governing party, Freddy Blay unlimited access to the sittings of the commission while the commission is supposed to sit in camera.

The Director of Elections of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo told Kasapa News that his party is losing confidence in the work of the commission of enquiry following what is says is Daily Guide newspaper’s interference in the work of the Commission.

“I have appeared before the Commission and they sit in camera without any media coverage. But we get worried that every blessed day when the Commission have its sittings you get Daily Guide newspaper covering every detail of that particular sitting and reporting verbatim what is happening on the commission. So you ask yourself whether is partisan manipulation of the process or an independent commission. We are very worried about what is happening because we know Daily Guide is in bed with the governing party.” Ofosu Ampofo told Kasapa 102.5 FM.

His comments follow the Centre for National Affairs (CNA) petition forwarded to the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, urging the CJ to fast-track investigations into corruption allegations against the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) and some other commissioners.

The CNA said the long delay in investigating the matter is problematic.

The group contends series of elections on the radar of political parties for this year and the expected referendum on the creation of new regions may be disrupted if the pending issues at the commission are not dealt with.
“You know that we have two referendums coming next year [2019]. Already the political party primaries are ongoing. You know the political primaries are handled by the Electoral Commission.

“We wonder how we are going to restore the leadership; bring back the integrity of the office. We wonder how the results of those referendums will be trusted by the people.” Executive Director of the Centre, Samuel Lartey has said in an interview with Accra based Citi FM.

Background

The rivalry and tension within the commission thickened in 2017 following, the EC Boss’s full response to the impeachment petition against her by some staff of the Electoral body.

Madam Charlotte Osei did not mince words in portions of her response as in some cases she directly accused her deputies of plain thievery, and insisted she was being hounded because of her new management standards.

President Akufo-Addo in accordance with the constitution forwarded petitions over the alleged rot at the EC to the Chief Justice to look into the matter.

A five-member committee was subsequently set up by the Chief Justice to investigate the alleged corruption, but after almost two years of investigations, the committee is yet to put out any findings on the matter.