South Dayi legislator, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has dragged an Electoral Commission (EC) member, Dr Peter Appiahene, to the Supreme Court over his alleged affiliation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In his writ, Mr. Dafeamekpor argues that it is unconstitutional for a known sympathiser, a member or openly affiliates or identified with a registered political party in Ghana to be appointed to the EC board.
Amongst other things, the NDC legislator is asking the Supreme Court to revoke the appointment.
“An order revoking the appointment of the Ist Defendant by the President of the Republic of Ghana as a member of the 2nd Defendant Commission.
“An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Is Defendant from acting as or holding himself out as a member of the 2nd Defendant Commission pending the determination of the suit.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from acting as or holding himself out as a member of the 2nd Defendant Commission.”
Background
In March of this year, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo swore in three new members of the electoral management board, including Dr Appiahene.
The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), the Star-Ghana Foundation, and the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) convened a press conference requesting Dr. Appiahene to resign.
The CSOs stated categorically that the appointment was unconstitutional.
Seasoned journalist Kwesi Pratt Junior also condemned President Akufo-Addo for making such an appointment.
He said no civilized country in the world engages in such appointments since they compromise the EC’s neutrality and the democratic nature of the country.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme hosted by Dr. Randy Abbey on April 12, 2023, Mr. Pratt could not fathom what prompted the president to take such a biased decision.
“We should be worried…from 49% to 10% public confidence in the EC and this 10% public confidence in the EC was recorded before the appointment of Appiahene and co…everybody who is honest and sincere will have a problem with this appointment.
“…I am frightened, I’m really frightened. At a time when public confidence in the EC has dropped to 10%, this is the appointment we have made.
“This guy (Dr. Peter Appiahene) I don’t see how in any civilized country which is trying to practice democracy in any part of the world, a man like this will be appointed to the electoral commission, I don’t see how.
“But this one, we have gone a step further, …a card-bearing professor, swearing in as a member of the electoral commission. So, it gives more meaning to the threats of not handing over under any circumstance.
“Just imagine that Koku Anyidohu was appointed under former president Mills as an electoral commission member, or just imagine that under John Mahama, Allotey Jacobs was appointed unto the EC, just imagine. What do you think would have happened? How can we do this?” Mr. Pratt wondered.
