General News of Saturday, 8 December 2018
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2018-12-08
Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini
Member of Parliament for Tamale Central says the country owes an apology to the sacked chair of the Electoral Commission.
Inusah Fuseini, said the decision by the current Commissioners to revert to the old EC logo is not only a “needless waste of time” but a conspicuous attempt “to obliterate the legacy of Charlotte Osei.”
“The actions are targeted at Charlotte,” he stated on Joy FM’s Newsfile and was all the more disappointed it is, Jean Mensa, a woman, who he claims is being vindictive.
He was reacting to the decision by the Jean Mensa led Electoral Commission to revert to the old logo which was changed by the immediate past EC chair Charlotte Osei.
A memo from the EC chair to the other Commissioners read: “From effective December 4, 2018, the original logo of the Electoral Commission which bears the coat of arms and has a ballot box showing the hand casting its vote has been restored.”
“The core values of the Electoral Commission namely integrity, fairness and accountability have from today also been restored.”
Shortly before the 2016 elections, former EC boss Mrs Charlotte Osei in rebranding the Commission introduced a new logo.
Even though the logo was criticized heavily by some civil society organizations and opposition political parties at the time, the former EC boss stood by the decision to change the logo saying:
“That is our new logo. We liked it, we picked it and it makes us happy.”
She was later impeached mid-2018 after allegations of misconduct and breach of procurement laws were made against her.
Jean Mensa was subsequently appointed by president Akufo-Addo.
Barely a year into her administration, she has also changed the logo by reverting to the old one under Afari Gyan, a decision which has generated another controversy.
Inusah Fuseini said the country could have gone ahead without this unnecessary controversy saying “We owe Charlotte Osei an apology.”
According to him, the logo reversion is being done in a way that suggested that Mrs Osei on her own, decided to change the logo without consulting the previous commissioners.
He also did not understand how the restoration of the logo will necessarily lead to the restoration of integrity at the EC.
He was convinced the restoration of the old logo was nothing but vindictiveness.
“You have been given a huge responsibility. You have to be neutral, fair
“You have no obligation to carry through the pettiness which led to the removal of Charlotte Osei,” he said.
A panel member Clara Kasser-Tee said the decision by the Jean Mensa led Commission to revert to the old logo cannot be said to be personal.
She said the same way Charlotte Osei cannot be accused of obliterating the legacy of Afari Gyan when she decided to change the logo, Mrs Mensa cannot also be accused of obliterating the legacy of Mrs Osei by her singular decision to revert to the old logo.
“It is not personal,” she stated, but was quick to add that “logos by themselves do not instill values.”
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