The NDC Should Shut Up

We have confidence in our judicial system to deliver justice regardless of how seemingly intractable cases brought before it may look.

Currently, the system is dealing with a matter which borders upon the integrity of our electoral system – a case brought before it by some petitioners. It is for the learned personalities of the bench, as empanelled by the Chief Justice, to deal with the case and nobody else.

Convention demands that as the case progresses, all should avoid dealing with the substance of the matter in a way as would be prejudicial to the outcome of the case.

Sadly some elements in the opposition NDC, true to their mould, have commenced making threatening remarks about how they would behave should the case go a certain direction.

Since no individual or group of persons can hold the country’s constitution to ransom because of their parochial interests as against the nation’s, the hot air would achieve nothing and Ghana would triumph in the long run especially since most citizens abhor the unruly conduct members of that party are used to putting up.

Describing the ongoing judicial process which is critical in restoring the lost integrity of the EC as politically motivated can only pass for the usual NDC propaganda which they unfurl when cornered; as they are now.

Ghana has grown over the years and really gone past those dark days when lawlessness could be allowed to progress because those at the helm authorized it subtly. Time has overtaken those times.

The transfer of Georgina Opoku Amankwa from the NCCE to the EC by former President John Mahama to be a subordinate to Charlotte Osei when both were on the same rank at a point in time at their previous duty posts, was tendentious and political in nature.

The EC Chairman and the commissioners were all appointed by an NDC government. So what is the beleaguered party talking about?

For an EC in which top persons of the rank of commissioners to be at loggerheads with each other to the detriment of efficiency, the people of this country must be worried hence the petition.

In any case, why is the NDC deliberately defending Charlotte Osei and leaving the other to their fate even though all were appointed by their government? We are constrained to pose the question: was Charlotte Osei appointed by John Mahama to undertake a certain agenda?

The importance of the integrity of an election management machine of a democratic country cannot be toyed with in the manner we witnessed it before and immediately after the last major elections the EC managed.

As we compose this commentary, we are unable to tell just how the next district level elections are going to be held given the bad blood that now exists between the Chairperson and her subordinates especially those perceived to be against her.

An allegation of tampering with the electoral register is too serious, because of its treasonable nature, to be marginalized and not be subjected to a judicial inquisition. The rather scary allegation of transfer of votes by Charlotte against one of the commissioners raises legitimate questions about the integrity of the commission as currently constituted.

The charges which consumed Ms Georgina Vivian Loretta Lamptey as head of the Commission of Human Rights And Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) do not come close to what hangs around the necks of the EC commissioners and Charlotte.

If the NDC loudmouths do not have anything to say let them shut up and allow the judiciary to do its work.

The lost confidence in the EC which made elections fiery and pushed the country to the precipice must be replaced by trust.