CARE Ghana cautions EC againt recruiting recruiting political actors as Returning Officers
Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana (“CARE” GHANA) has cautioned the Electoral
Commission (EC ) of the far-reaching consequences of recruiting political actors as Returning Officers for the December 7th, 2024 elections.
According to CARE Ghana, recruitment of political actors as Returning Officers in competitive elections can introduce troubling conflict of interest that undermines the credibility of the electoral process and potentially erode public confidence in the fairness and neutrality of Electoral Commission.
It noted that Politicization of election administration undermines the principles of democracy and jeopardizes the acceptance of election results among the electorate.
“The implications of this decision is profound. It erodes the foundation of trust upon which
democratic institutions are built and undermines the legitimacy of the electoral process.
“This action by the EC is a slap in the face to every citizen who entrusts their confidence to
the electoral process, expecting fairness and transparency in return. The public’s faith in
the electoral system is at stake, and failure to address this issue could have long-lasting
consequences for the stability of our democracy. The credibility of our electoral system hinges on the trust of the people, and it is incumbent upon the authorities to uphold the highest standards of transparency and fairness in conducting the 2024 elections,” a statement signed by David Kumi Addo, Executive Director of CARE Ghana said.
It observed that similar incident occurred in the 2020 elections which witnessed numerous infractions, illegalities and error by entrusting individuals with strong political affiliations to oversee the electoral process, the Electoral Commission is effectively compromising the integrity of the elections and betrayed the confidence of the public.
“This egregious action not only undermines the credibility of the electoral process but also challenges the very essence of democracy practised in the country. The EC has a duty to uphold the highest standards of impartiality and fairness in conducting elections, and it must not waver in fulfilling this sacred responsibility.
“The time to act is now to safeguard the integrity of our democracy and restore public trust in the electoral process. It is imperative that corrective action is taken to rectify this situation.”
“The recruitment of hardcore politicians as Returning Officers must be reconsidered, and
measures put in place to forestall future occurrence. Recruitment must be based on merit, impartiality, and commitment to upholding the integrity of our elections,” the statement ended.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has denied claims by Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) John Mahama that it has recruitment NPP members as Returning Officers for the 2024 elections.
