The General Secretary of the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, says it is unfair to accuse the Electoral Commission (EC) of bias, following the setting up of the Election Steering Committee. He argued that because the EC has not yet stated the work of the committee “I think that it is premature at this stage for anybody or political parties to express their positions for or against [the committee], it is totally premature.”
The EC has been criticized by mostly pro-opposition groups for its decision to include some individuals believed to be NDC activists on the committee to assist in the conduct of the country’s November general elections. The pressure groups and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called for the dissolution of the committee but the EC thinks otherwise. Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Asiedu Nketia argued that the EC is an autonomous institution and hence cannot be forced to take any decision it deems fit. He explained that during the last Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, although the issue was not the top subject on the agenda, they have been assured by the EC that the concerns raised would be considered and a decision made.
“You will need to know that this issue about steering committee was not on the agenda for the IPAC at all. It came in on during any other business. So when it was raised, that was why we were told that let them [EC] go and meet, they understand our concerns, the next IPAC if it is made an item for discussion, by that time the Electoral Commission would have been better prepared to give us a better explanation and give us the answers to the probing questions that we are asking. It is after we have heard them, that we would be able to find out if it is necessary to take partisan positions,” Asiedu Nketia said. He also expressed surprise at the NPP’s position on the matter saying “I am surprised that the NPP is indicating that they won’t support the Steering Committee,” he added.
