President-elect John Dramani Mahama assured African high commissioners and ambassadors in Accra that his administration would maintain an open-door policy to foster better diplomatic relations and remove any bureaucratic hurdles impeding economic cooperation.
Speaking to the diplomats, Mahama acknowledged the frustration caused by administrative delays but expressed his commitment to smoothing out obstacles in the interest of stronger ties between Ghana and other African nations.
In his address, Mahama also touched on ongoing electoral disputes, particularly in the aftermath of Ghana’s recent elections. The former president highlighted the need for fairness and transparency in handling the issues arising from the results in nine contested constituencies.
He emphasized the importance of the Electoral Commission adhering to established principles, warning against changing the rules to suit specific situations.
“Sometimes bureaucracy has a way of slowing things down, and I know some of you get frustrated,” Mahama said.
“I can assure you that I’m going to have a very open door so that we can help you remove any obstacles that are in the way of good relations and economic cooperation.”
On the issue of the disputed election results, Mahama expressed his concerns about the manner in which the Electoral Commission had handled some cases.
He pointed to the controversial 2020 election scenario, where he argued that once a declaration had been made, it was no longer the Commission’s responsibility to adjudicate disputes. Rather, he suggested that the proper avenue for resolving grievances was through the courts.
Mahama also highlighted the case of Techemansa, where he claimed the declaration of results had been made under duress amid a chaotic atmosphere in the coalition room, with soldiers present.
Despite the circumstances, Mahama noted that the Electoral Commission had previously stated that no re-coalition would be permitted once a declaration was made.
He urged that the same principle be applied consistently across all disputed cases, regardless of the party involved.
“There should be no shifting of the goalposts depending on who is at the other end of the stick,” he said.
While Mahama acknowledged one case where no declaration had been made, he called for the Electoral Commission to act swiftly to resolve the matter.
He emphasized that fairness and justice must prevail, urging the Commission to make a clear determination on whether a rerun would be required and how the results would be collated.
“We hope that those issues will be resolved as quickly as possible so that we know what the final outcome of the election is,” Mahama concluded.
His comments reflect ongoing concerns about the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, as well as a desire for a swift resolution to the disputed constituencies.
By: Shadrack Odame Agyare | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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