Ghanaian journalist and critic, Kwesi Pratt has called for a new system for appointing Electoral Commission members, following controversy over the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson.
Mr Pratt argued that the appointment process should be restructured to reduce concerns about political influence and strengthen public confidence in the independence of the election management body.
“My wish is that going into the future, we probably have a system for appointing electoral commissioners which would give the power of appointment not to the President, not to persons who have clearly partisan interests,” he said on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV.
He suggested that Ghana could consider a system in which political parties are represented on the electoral management body, with a neutral person serving as chairperson.
Mr Pratt said such an arrangement would make political affiliations more transparent, unlike a system in which commissioners are expected to operate independently despite questions about their political backgrounds.
He acknowledged that membership of a political party did not automatically prevent someone from performing electoral duties impartially.
“I’m not saying that bearing a party card makes it impossible for one to be neutral. No, you can bear a party card and still be neutral and do your work well,” he said.
However, he argued that it was difficult to determine how an appointee would perform before the person assumed office, making it important to consider political affiliations during the selection process.
“To the extent that it is possible, I would advocate very, very strongly that persons who are so openly identified with political parties should not be appointed onto the Electoral Commission,” he said.
