The Electoral Commission of Ghana has refuted claims made by former President John Mahama that it hired members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to serve as returning and deputy returning officers for the upcoming 2024 election in December.
In a press statement, the Electoral Commission clarified that the process of recruiting returning officers and their deputies was conducted openly, fairly, and transparently. The Commission highlighted that the vacancy announcement was published in the Daily Graphic on February 5, 2024, leading to the receipt of 20,561 applications.
An in-house committee was formed to shortlist suitable applicants for interviews, with successful candidates having no less than 8 years of working experience with the Commission as Temporal Election Officials.
The Commission categorically denied Mahama's allegation that Ministers and District Chief Executives (DCEs) were instructed to nominate party members for appointment as returning officers. They labeled this claim as unfounded and rejected it outright.
The rebuttal from the Electoral Commission follows remarks made by John Mahama during an interview at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he accused the government of politicizing the Commission's activities.
Urging all stakeholders to disseminate information accurately and responsibly in this election year, the Electoral Commission reaffirmed its commitment to conducting transparent, credible, and fair elections. They emphasized their dedication to upholding the highest standards of integrity to safeguard Ghana's electoral process.
Furthermore, the Commission addressed Mahama's concerns regarding its integrity and conduct, pointing to constitutional provisions for the appointment of its members and recalling similar concerns raised during Mahama's presidency regarding appointments made by him.
