Lawyer and Convention People’s Party (CPP) member Kwame Jantuah has proposed removing the appointment of Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson and deputy chairpersons from the direct control of the Presidency, advocating an open and competitive selection process to strengthen public confidence in the electoral body.
Under his proposal, qualified Ghanaians interested in leading the Commission would apply publicly, undergo an independent assessment and have their qualifications and suitability examined through a televised process before the final selection is submitted to the President for approval.
Speaking on Asaase Radio’s The Forum on Saturday, October 17, Mr Jantuah said the credibility of Ghana’s elections depended largely on whether citizens considered the EC independent and impartial.
He argued that the selection of electoral officials should be driven by competence and public confidence rather than political interests.
“If I had my own way, we would take the nomination of EC chair and deputies away from the Presidency. Let’s open it up. Anybody who feels they have the wherewithal to be Electoral Commission, come and apply,” he said.
Mr Jantuah warned that perceptions of political bias within the Commission could heighten tensions during elections and undermine acceptance of electoral outcomes.
“It is not the politicians we should be concentrating on; it is the people. It is how the people have confidence in the Electoral Commission that is key. Nothing else matters,” he said.
Independent committee to assess applicants
As part of the proposed reforms, Mr Jantuah called for the establishment of an independent committee comprising distinguished individuals with experience in elections to assess applicants and identify the most suitable candidates.
He said the committee should be insulated from partisan influence and its proceedings televised to allow the public to scrutinise candidates’ qualifications, experience and responses to questions.
“Once that is chosen, then it goes to the President to assent, like they do in the UK with their Chief Justices,” he said.
The proposal, he explained, would make the selection process more transparent and help demonstrate that appointments to the EC were based on merit rather than political considerations.
He maintained that protecting the Commission’s credibility should be a national priority, warning that mistrust of electoral institutions could create conditions for disputes and instability.
“The moment people have some idea that the Electoral Commission is not straight, the elections are just tensed,” he said.
Electoral disputes raise concerns
Mr Jantuah cited tensions surrounding Ghana’s 2012 and 2016 general elections as examples of the importance of safeguarding public confidence in the electoral process.
He also referred to a past presidential election in which results were announced more than once, arguing that the episode contributed to doubts among some members of the public about the Commission’s credibility.
“Elections create wars. We don’t need to get to that stage,” he said, urging reforms that could reduce mistrust and prevent electoral disagreements from escalating.
He further cited the tenure of former EC Chairperson Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who led the Commission from 1993 to 2015, as an example of the experience that could inform a more independent selection system.
Mr Jantuah suggested that people with electoral expertise, including individuals familiar with Dr Afari-Gyan’s experience, could contribute to the proposed committee, provided it was not dominated by politicians.
Debate over EC appointments intensifies
The proposal comes amid renewed debate over the appointment of Electoral Commission officials and concerns about the institution’s perceived political neutrality.
President John Dramani Mahama swore in two new deputy chairpersons of the Commission on October 12, following changes in its leadership.
The appointments have attracted political attention following reported comments by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, that they were intended to “tilt the balance” of the Commission.
Against this backdrop, Mr Jantuah’s proposal seeks to shift the focus from political competition over appointments to a process centred on competence, transparency and public trust.
He argued that the ultimate test of any appointment system should be whether Ghanaians have confidence in the institution responsible for managing their elections.
