Deputy Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fred Abgenyo has said the Electoral Commissioner Afari Gyan deserves to be applauded for the great job he has done instead of being chastised.
He said although the commissioner may have some flaws, his contribution to the country’s democracy far exceeds the errors he has committed.
The Electoral Commissioner has come under intense criticism after the Supreme Court declared the March 3, 2015 District Assembly Elections unconstitutional, thereby nullifying all the preparations that have been made towards the elections.
One Benjamin Eyi Mensah, a fisherman aspiring to become the assemblyman for the Eyipeh Electoral Area within the Effutu District of the Central Region, dragged the Electoral Commission to the Supreme Court over the EC’s refusal to register him as an aspirant for the District Assembly and Unit Committee Elections.
Following the suspension of the elections, many people have asked that assembly member aspirants who were affected by the court’s decision to sue the EC for the loss they have suffered.
A group calling itself Movement for Change has said that Dr Afari Gyan must be prosecuted for causing financial loss to the state.
The New Patriotic Party’s Chairman for the Gomoa West constituency, Joe Donkor said the EC chair must not be compensated when his term of office ends adding that he has been incompetent.
But speaking on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Mr Agbenyo said “I don’t think we are being fair to him let us criticise State Institutions when they go wrong but let us do that with respect and a lot of circumspection”.
He noted that Dr Afari Gyan has distinguished himself as a statesman and not many people will be able to achieve the feat he has.
“I am not saying he should not be questioned when he goes wrong, I think we can be a bit measured in our criticisms.”
According to Mr Agbenyo, the EC chairman’s strong-willed nature and his ability to stand by his words and not succumb to what other people say has contributed largely to the country’s peace.
“We have been able to change governments peacefully over the years because of him. We all have a duty to support state institutions they will make mistakes but to portray that he does not know what he is about and can be pushed around by anyone is unfair.”
In his view “he [Afari Gyan] has done extremely well not all people will stand their ground like he has. Inasmuch as we have every right to criticise and question him, we should be measured in our pronouncements.”
The deputy communications director of the NDC said asking for the EC chair to be prosecuted is totally unnecessary.
He thinks that prosecuting the EC boss will not prevent similar mistakes form occurring in the future. Instead the appropriate measures must be put in place to curb the mishap.
Despite the EC having a lawyer, Agbenyo also proposed that a team of legal experts be set up to work solely with the EC to avert issues of such nature.
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