The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has begun piling pressure on President Akufo-Addo to revoke the appointment of two new members of the Electoral Commission.
Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani have come under intense scrutiny with various research suggesting that they are known affiliates of the ruling New Patriotic Party.
President Akufo-Addo last week swore into office three members of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana. Their appointment is in line with the dictates of Article 43 (1 and 2) of the 1992 constitution.
“We are painfully aware that voluntary and constitutionally grounded revocation of this unfortunate and democratically problematic EC appointment by the President is extremely unlikely.
“However nothing stops the affected appointees namely Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani from voluntarily and honourably resigning from membership of the EC,” he said.
The duo’s resignation, in his view, will “be in the supreme interest of our country’s continual democratic progress, election peace and credibility and indeed, the overall national interest.”
According to him, although the two meet the generic benchmark qualification stipulated in Article 44 (1), “We believe strongly that having regard to the independent and non-partisan nature of our Electoral Commission and its mandate, the spirit of the constitution demands far more in the way of ones suitability to be a member of the EC.”
As a result, CODEO “accordingly called on Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani to do the honourable thing and resign.”
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH
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