Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, is mounting pressure on the government to overhaul Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), saying the institution, under its current leadership, lacks the capacity to conduct credible elections.
In a sharply worded critique during an interview with Joy News on Wednesday, June 25, Asiedu Nketia pointed to a pattern of electoral mismanagement, citing the unresolved Ablekuma North parliamentary election and the disenfranchisement of the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) constituents in 2020 as prime examples.
“This is no longer about isolated mistakes. It’s about a broken system led by people who have proven again and again that they cannot manage elections fairly or efficiently,” the NDC Chairman said.
Calls for Comprehensive Reform
His comments come amid growing scrutiny over the Electoral Commission’s handling of electoral disputes and its broader performance since 2020. Asiedu Nketia insists that the only solution is a complete change in the EC’s top leadership, led by Chairperson Jean Mensa, whom he accuses of eroding public confidence in Ghana’s electoral processes.
“We cannot trust them to deliver a free and fair election in 2028,” he asserted. “There has to be a reset—starting with the removal of the top three officials at the Commission.”
Stalled Elections and Structural Deficiencies
The NDC Chairman’s criticism centred on what he described as the EC’s failure to anticipate and prevent deadlocks in parliamentary elections—particularly in Ablekuma North, where an unresolved electoral dispute has left constituents without representation for six months.
“How is it that an election is conducted and half a year later, there’s no elected Member of Parliament? That’s not just poor management—it’s institutional collapse,” he said.
He further described the EC’s handling of the 2020 SALL debacle—where an entire constituency was excluded from parliamentary representation—as a watershed moment that should have prompted national outrage.
A Pattern of Electoral Missteps?
Asiedu Nketia believes these issues are not isolated blunders but reflect systemic weaknesses that have worsened under the current EC leadership.
“From the SALL fiasco to the Ayawaso West by-election violence, and now Ablekuma North, we are witnessing an Electoral Commission that no longer serves its constitutional purpose.”
Government Urged to Act
He called on the ruling administration to take urgent steps to restore trust in the electoral process by reconstituting the EC ahead of the 2028 general elections.
“If this government is serious about democracy, then this EC cannot remain as it is. We need leadership that is neutral, competent, and accountable,” he stated.
Asiedu Nketia’s remarks are expected to intensify political debate around electoral reforms, especially as political parties gear up for the next cycle of national polls. While the EC has not responded directly to his latest criticism, the call for structural reforms is likely to resonate with segments of the electorate disillusioned with recent electoral controversies.
