By
Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Nov. 23, GNA
– Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has called on the Chairperson of the
Electoral Commission (EC) Mrs Jean Mensa and her deputies to be impartial in
the execution of their constitutional mandate.
“It is our
conviction that the new Chair and members of the commission will endeavour to
carry out their duties with impartially and without fear or favour,” Otumfuo
said in his speech over the weekend when he delivered the Annual Leadership
Lecture of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
“We will urge all
concerned to smoke the peace pipe so the Commission can reset the button and
begin preparations for the conduct of our next elections with total commitment
to fairness and justice.”
The Lecture on the
theme: “Leadership: Strengthen Democratic Institutions for National
Development”, was attended by high profile personalities such as former
President John Agyekum Kufuor, Nana Otuo Siriboe, Omanhene of the Juabeng
Traditional Area and Chairman of the Council of State, and Nana Opoku Ampomah,
a traditional ruler and Founder of the UPSA.
The Leadership
Lecture was instituted to strengthen the stature of the University as it
strives to improve on scholarship, research and professionalism.
It coincided with
the launch of UPSA’s 55th Anniversary and the 20th Anniversary
of the distinguished keynote speaker since his enstoolment as the 16th
occupant of the Golden Stool.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu
said peace and order were the preconditions for national development; adding
that the survival of the nation as a democracy depends upon Ghanaian’s ability
to conduct free and fair elections.
“Indeed, it is our
ability to conduct such elections peacefully and in the process ensure a smooth
transfer of power that has given our Fourth Republic the universal accolades
from the international community.”
He said the responsibility
for this credit belongs to the EC and yet somehow, the Commission has never had
a free rein.
“That its operations
have always been shrouded in controversy in my view reflects the sheer
intensity of the political contests over which the Commission is called upon to
preside,” he said.
“For the first time,
the Commission has suffered the abrupt termination of its membership as a
consequence of some perceived wrong-doing. A new Commission has been
constituted but not all the political parties have as yet embraced them. I can
only hope that a prolonged conflict may be avoided. We may find a lot to
disagree with in our hearts but reality obliges us to appreciate that continued
mistrust can only be harmful to the future of this crucial institution.”
He said, he could
not comprehend that persons appointed to this august body would come with the
intent of compromising the integrity of the Commission and working in favour of
one party.
“We can never get
away from the fact that there will always be one appointing authority at any
point in time. However an appointee is under no obligation to do any favours to
the appointing authority,” he said.
Professor Abednego
Feehi Okoe Amartey, the Vice Chancellor of the UPSA, expressed gratitude to
Nana Opoku Ampomah for graciously offering them a 35-acre land at Amanfo, near
Bekwai, for the construction of another UPSA Campus.
“While at that,
I would also like to thank the Asantehene for his swift intervention in
averting a legal battle regarding the said land,” he said.
GNA
