EC suspends Election Steering C’ttee after protests

The Electoral Commission (EC) has suspended the 18-member Election Steering Committee it inaugurated few days ago.

This follows massive protest against some members of the committee by pro-opposition pressure groups.

The EC announced the decision after an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting held today [Friday].

Three persons on the committee have been accused by pro-opposition group Let My Vote Account (LMVC), Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) and Mustapha Hamid, spokesperson of the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of being members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

They are Joseph Whittal, Deputy Commissioner at CHRAJ, Dr.Karl Max Aarhin, a Deputy Director of International Affairs of the NDC and Francis Azumah of the National Peace Council.

Meanwhile, the EC according to the political parties, has agreed to look into the concerns raised and address them appropriately.

Protest against NDC members on committee
February 8, 2016: The Electoral Commission inaugurated an election steering committee ahead of this year’s election scheduled for November.

February 17, 2016: Pro-opposition pressure group, Let My Vote Count Alliance raised red flag against some mebers of the committee saying the composition is politically biased.

They accused the EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, of deliberately picking National Democratic Congress affiliates from relevant institutions to man the steering committee.

February 17, 2016: A Deputy General Secretary of the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, said the party cannot be blamed for the inclusion of its Deputy Director of International Relations, Dr. Karl Marx Arhin, on the Elections Steering Committee.

By: Godwin A. Allotey & Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana