Speed Up Enquiry into EC Mess – Haruna Tells Chief Justice

The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has called on Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo to fast track ongoing enquiry into misconduct allegations against some commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC).

He warns that any further delay has the tendency of grinding operations of the electoral commission to a halt.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament Wednesday, he said the EC has a lot on its plate in the coming months and must remain focused on the job at hand.

“We are told that there will be a referendum maybe sometime in September…we are again reminded that there are District Elections in September, but the independent Electoral Commissioner is almost at a halt in its operations,” he noted.

A committee set up by the Chief Justice is currently investigating allegations of misconduct after impeachment petitions were filed against the EC Chair Charlotte Osei and her two deputies- Amadu Sulley and Georgina Amankwah.

It will determine whether the EC boss and her two deputies stay in office or not. It has taken over six months now but the committee is yet to come out with its report.

Haruna Iddrisu

According to the Minority Leader, “we need to get the committee working on the EC to work timeously as we need to improve the database of the Commission for the conduct of the referendum and District Elections.”

He said it is time to bring closure to the matter for EC to get on with its work.

Adding his voice to the issue, the National Coordinator of Coalition of Domestic Election Observer (CODEO) Albert Arhin said it is time for the EC to get to work as it has no time to waste.

He said it does not help that the public is not aware of happenings with the committee which has been sitting in camera.

He discounted arguments that the EC brought the current predicaments unto itself saying “what has happened is already known but it [committee] needs to resolve the issue and move on.”

Mr Arhin said the unnecessary delay is affecting the democratic roots the country is taking.

Source: Myjoyonline