A Senior Lecturer of the University for Development Studies, Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw has chastised Ms Jean Mensa and Dr Bossman Asare, Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission of Ghana for compromising their office as referees in Ghana's electoral system.
He made these known through a statement released on Saturday 25th May, 2019.
He indicated, that even though the Chairpersons of the commission were "appointed under strange circumstances", they are expected to prove their critics wrong by providing a transparent system that gives a level playing field for all stakeholders in our political system.
This he observed, is not being achieved since the public utterances and posture of the Commissioners of the EC has not been impressive.
Late Invitation of NDC to IPAC Meeting
Dr Godfred Jasaw described as unfortunate, shameful and regrettable, the decision to invite the biggest opposition party in the country, only few minutes to the start of an IPAC meeting.
He explained, that even though Ms Jean Mensa rendered an apology to the NDC on this matter, recent developments at the commission suggests that the Commissioners drew no lessons from the unfortunate incident.
NDC as a threat to Ghana's Democracy
The Senior Lecturer, further described as disastrous, comments from Dr Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral commission, suggesting that the NDC "is gradually becoming a cause to worry for the peace and stability in the country".
He advised Dr Bossman Asare to purge himself off such controversies.
"If he continue to act as though his core mandate is to put smiles on the faces of elements in government, he will not only lose any integrity he has but also plunge the country into chaos."
Limited Registration Exercise
Dr Godfred Jasaw kicked against the decision of the EC to move the limited registration exercise from the electoral areas to the district offices of the commission and described that decision as unwise.
He noted, that such a move will disenfranchise over 1 million eligible voters.
He therefore quizzed whether the Commissioners understand their core mandate and further stated, that the "EC has no excuse not to undertake this exercise at the electoral areas, giving the fact that parliament had approved its budget for the exercise".
Dr Jasaw also advised the Commissioners of the EC to stop taking entrenched position on this important issue, as it has the tendency of ruining the peace and stability the country enjoys.
He ended by calling on the various Civil society organizations, the clergy, chiefs and all other stakeholders to speak out against the actions of Ms Jean Mensa and Dr Bossman Asare, to provide a level playing field for all parties in the country so that the country will not be plunged into a state of anarchy and despair because of the "irresponsible/political" actions of some individuals.
Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw Writes;
Considering the strange circumstances under which the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her deputies were appointed, many of us expected them to live above the occasion and prove their critics wrong by providing fair grounds for all stakeholders in our electoral system.
Unfortunately, their public utterances, posture and work so far have not been impressive.
The unfortunate decision to deliberately or otherwise, invite the biggest opposition party in the country, only few minutes to the start of an IPAC meeting was very shameful and regrettable.
Recent developments at the EC has proven, that the apology rendered to the NDC after that unfortunate incident, was not one that the Chairperson and her deputies drew any lessons from.
I was outraged, when I heard the Deputy Chairperson for the Commission describe the NDC as a threat to the country's democracy.
In fact, he indicated that "The actions of the NDC are gradually becoming a cause to worry for the peace and stability in the country".
Such disastrous comments from someone who is supposed to be a Referee, remains distasteful and I think Dr Bossman Asare must purge himself off such controversies, considering the bizarre circumstances under which he and his colleagues were appointed.
If he continue to act as though his core mandate is to put smiles on the faces of elements in government, he will not only lose any integrity he has but also plunge the country into chaos.
I agree with all those who are strongly against EC's decision to move the limited registration exercise from the electoral areas to the district offices.
I do not know how such an unwise decision will even help the ruling party. A decision to disenfranchise over 1 million eligible voters?
Does the commissioners of the EC, led by Ms Jean Mensa understand their core mandate?
The EC has no excuse not to undertake this exercise at the electoral areas, giving the fact parliament has approved its budget for the execerice.
It will not be in the interest of the country, for the Commissioners to take an entrenched position on this matter, as it has the tendency to ruin the peace we enjoy as a country.
This is the point where we expect the various civil society organizations, the clergy, chiefs and all other relevant stakeholders to speak out.
We must speak against these ills before the irresponsible/political actions of some individuals, plunge this nation into a state of anarchy and despair.
Source: Richmond Eduku
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Let us not monger war because war is not a good thing to play with. You better be objective in this sensitive matters than adopt foo.lish postures, I can assure you guys that when war breaks in this country you will find no place to lay your heads. What the EC chair is doing is dangerous to the peace of the nation. If thinking that npp will win again what is obsessing you, then forget it because even God will not allow affliction to rise the second time. Nana Addo is a symbol of insensitivity, wickedness, bad luck and death and Ghanaians will kick him and his npp out one touch. Better reserve your energies to weep on that day. Thanks a lot
such block heads call themselves lecturers, master step out and come and do ndc propaganda and stop hiding behind academia and fuuuuling
Dear NDC if you think NPP brought Jean Mensah to rig the 2020 election the same you brought Charlotte Osei to rig the 2016 election, then please I entreat you to work hard to make NPP's agenda unfruitful the same way they(NPP) yours nyamaaa in 2016. If NPP beat you in opposition with Charlotte Osei, why cry when you can also beat them in opposition. Work hard and save our peace.
When we cloud our judgement with politics, no matter how good or true the issue is, these will be seen with the political lens....... Honestly speaking, nobody can tell which party AFARI GYAN leans towards because, the man no matter how much you accused him, no matter the degree or intensity of the insult, he will never come out to respond to any person, group or party. But at the end of the day, you could tell or even agree that whatever decision or action taken by him.....really put to shame his accusers etc. But with this batch of commissioners, they do the wrong thing, render apology, respond to everything and even end up betraying their political bias towards other groups. That is what the man is saying...........The insults will not solve anything..... Whether the man has PHD, or is a senior lecturer or what so ever is the not the issue. But Rwanda and the likes just started like this and ended up with so many lives lost....We are not better or super human than these people hence must be careful with this kind of politics we are practicing here in Ghana.
Thank you Doc for hitting the nail right on the head
Lol since when did Jasaw became a senior lecturer. ***barred word*** ***barred word*** you think writing this will help with the position you ever wanted from NDC. I'm not npp nor NDC I was once your student and you ***barred word*** pride and arrogance will catch up with you. You have the gut to question people's posture...what is your posture as a lecture to the UDS wa campus students, students you always disrespect and call them the Chinese population. Look at his decay teeth. In GH anybody can sit somewhere and write ***barred word***! !!
Jean, just keep focused and do what is right according to your work discription as EC Boss. You have the whole of Ghana behind you and no amount of NDC's mischief can malign your hard-earned reputation. Collaterally, NDC is being distroyed in her own planted forest of lies and malice aforethought. Out of her own political incompetence, she is despirately bent on propaganda, baseless polemic, dirty politicking to grievously compensate her inability to formulate subtansive Governace and Economic policies to match NPP. Thus, can only come to power through the back door, rigging of elections and hence feels uncomfortable with the presence of Jean as EC Boss who is strongly determined to do the right thing by law. That is the problem of the NDC beating about the buuush and its' excesses.
This shameful woman was appointed to rig elections for her npp family but that will not shine. she is already exposed and nothing she does is clean. She is so corrupt to the toe.
Dr. let them insult you, after all we know that whenever they lose the debate they resort to insult and violence, those they called incompetent are being recognized by no mean an organization than United Nations. Today look at the recognition given to Charlotte Osei in electoral matters,(the same area they said she was incompetent) the whole world is seeing who they are and what they represent, apostles of rule of law by mouth and dictators by deed
This one too be PhD holder? ah. there is nothing wrong with a lecturer being political but when it clouds your reasoning, its very dangerous. please get away. you aint making any sense