National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has launched a scathing attack on the Electoral Commission (EC), calling for a complete reset of its leadership and functions.
General Mosquito, as he is affectionately called, described the current body as “not fit for purpose.”
In a heated interview on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, June 25, Asiedu Nketia pointed to what he called the Commission’s “negligence” and “inability to perform its functions” as justification for his call.
“We are having the wrong election management body in place,” he declared. “That is a subject of reset in the future.”
Asked by host Evans Mensah to clarify what a “reset” of the EC meant, the NDC Chairman replied, “It means bringing it back to an institution that is fit for purpose. The way it is existing now, [it’s] not fit for purpose.
“Because you cannot have, with all the laws that we have, an election that will go into a stalemate. There is no anticipation of any stalemate in any of our laws—unless people don’t want to do their work well.”
He described the unresolved situation in Ablekuma North, where no Member of Parliament has been sworn in six months after the election, as a clear symptom of what he sees as electoral mismanagement.
“This is a clear case of negligence or inability to perform its functions,” he said. “It’s a good reason why the Electoral Commission needs to be reset.”
But his critique didn’t stop there. General Mosquito went further.
“Remember, four years ago, there was the issue of SALL. A whole constituency went unrepresented for four years. And then when this commission, as presently constituted, took over, they’ve never done a satisfactory election.
“Their first one, a constituency, went unrepresented for four years. And then their second election is this one [2024].”
He also referenced the Ayawaso West by-election, which he said had everything messed up, suggesting widespread problems during the process.
“There is overwhelming evidence that this commission is not fit for purpose. And if in any serious country we want to maintain this type of Electoral Commission, then I don’t know what the country is about.”
Pressed on whether he believes leadership of the Electoral Commission must change, Asiedu Nketia was blunt.
“There has to be a change,” he insisted.
And when Evans Mensah asked directly whether EC Chair Jean Mensa must go, the NDC Chairman responded without hesitation: “Yes. I think the three top leadership must all go. They have managed the Commission so badly.”
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.