President Should Not Wield The Authority To Appoint The EC Chairperson – Dr. Ramzi Inusah

A member of the Communications Team of the Movement for Change, Dr. Ramzi Inusah, has expressed concerns regarding the missing laptops for the election.

According to Dr. Inusah, both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are responsible for the challenges facing Ghana’s elections.

During an interview with Helen Appiah-Ampofo on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on March 21, he stated “The NPP and NDC are the creation of this problem because they have enabled the constitution to favor them when they get to power.”

He emphasized the problem of political interference in the appointment of crucial constitutional bodies, like the Electoral Commissioner (EC), which diminishes their independence and breeds distrust among citizens.

“If you are in power, and you have the right to appoint an electoral commissioner, which the EC should be an independent constitutional body, then there is an issue here. That is where the mistrust comes in.”

He stressed the importance of authentic bipartisan efforts to tackle these systemic governance flaws. Dr. Inusah suggested that the current controversy surrounding issues such as anti-LGBTQ legislation should also trigger discussions on broader constitutional reforms.

“Just as the honorable Sam George advocates for the anti-LGBTQ legislation, I believe that if he would also champion the cause for constitutional reform in this regard, it will serve a better good for this country,” he added.

Central to his argument is the call to remove the President’s authority to appoint key officials such as the EC chairperson. He advocated for parliamentary oversight in such appointments to ensure impartiality and accountability.

“The president should not have the power to appoint the EC chairperson,” Dr. Inusah emphasized. “We need to amend these provisions in the constitution to entrust Parliament to appoint such leadership as far as our independent bodies are concerned.”

Dr. Inusah ended by urging a thorough reassessment of Ghana’s governance structure, advocating for changes that would enhance openness, effectiveness, and responsibility in government appointments and operations.