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EC Boss Warns Staff Against Secret Meetings

Jean Mensa – EC Chairperson

The Chairperson of the
Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa has cautioned officers against acts of
association that could undermine the credibility of the institution to carry
out its mandate of holding credible elections.

While advising election
officers against operating in secrecy and holding secret meetings with
individuals or groups, she called for transparency and fairness through the
creation of a level playing field for all parties.

“It is important you bear in
mind that you have not been sent to the districts to do the bidding of any
person or political party. You are only accountable to the electoral commission”
she said.     

Mrs Mensah gave the advised
when she addressed some 158 newly appointed officers at the opening of a two-day
orientation programme held in Accra on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

The orientation which was
under the theme, “Ensuring Efficiency, Accountability and Professionalism in
Service delivery”, sought to educate officers on the mandate of the EC, its
governance structure, duties and obligation of officers, general administrative
and human resource practices among others.

The EC boss urged the recruits
who were selected from 2700 applicants to abide by the commission’s cardinal
principle of transparency, fairness and integrity.

“It is important to lay bare
the fact that you will be tempted, enticed and induced to act in the interest
of individuals or section of our society. We expect nothing but integrity and
honesty from you even in the most tempting situations” she said. 

She advised field officers to
at all time guard against misappropriation and make judicious use of resources
such as vehicle and funds as “any violation of policy would not be tolerated
and the commission will not take lightly acts of dishonesty”.

The Deputy Chair in charge of
Operations at the EC, Mr Samuel Tettey, has for his part warned new officers
against over reliance on returning officers who might capitalise on their
novelty and subject them to manipulation in elections.

He also urged officers to
among other things go through the appropriate line of communication to channel
grievances, be stationed in their posted districts to give credible information
and also refer to colleagues and superiors when in need of clarification.

The Deputy in Charge of
Corporate Service, Eric Bossman Asare, said, “You can’t say the New Patriotic Party
or National Democratic Congress chairman in a district is your friend. Because
once you do that the others might misconstrue your action.”  

By Issah Mohammed

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