The Centre for Progressive Governance (CenProG) has urged the Royal Institute of International Affairs to disregard claims by pressure group Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Charlotte Osei, does not deserve to be nominated for the 2017 Chatham House Prize.

AFAG in a letter to the Institute had argued Mrs Osei did not deserve the award because the electoral processes leading to the 2016 general elections were fraught with a series of court cases, anxiety, and demonstrations which nearly plunged the country into chaos.

AFAG said the successful outcome of the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections was largely the contribution of peace-loving Ghanaians and must not be credited to the chair of the commission for which reason she was nominated for the award.

But CenProG, in a counter letter, has appealed to the Royal Institute to disregard AFAG’s letter seeking to dent the credibility of Mrs Osei.

According to CenProG, AFAG is a surrogate of the government and has been noted for their “blinkered, blinded and wholly partisan nature which has put them on a warpath with the commission since the group came into existence”, adding: “Consistently, the group has attacked the EC and tried [on several occasions] to set right-thinking Ghanaians against the commission, but to no avail.”

According to CenProG, Mrs Osei’s short stay as the EC Chair has been “impressive” and has set Ghana as a beacon of democracy in Africa and the world. They added that despite the pressure on her, Mrs Osei did her work diligently, devoid of fear or favour for any of the political groupings in the country during the 2016 polls and, therefore, deemed her worthy of the Chatham House Prize.

Below is the full letter:

Centre for Progressive Governance (CenProG)

26/04/16

Dear Sir,

RE: MRS CHARLOTTE OSEI, GHANA’S ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER UNFIT FOR CHATHAM HOUSE PRICE

The Centre for Progressive Governance (CENPROG), Ghana, has observed with utter dismay a petition sent to your noble institution by the group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), known to be a surrogate of the ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP), to seek to dent the credibility of the Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Charlotte Osei and hence unworthy of the being shortlisted for the prestigious award.

AFAG has been noted for their blinkered, blinded and wholly partisan nature which has put them on a warpath with the commission since the group came into existence. Consistently, the group has attacked the EC and tried severally to set right thinking Ghanaians against the commission but to no avail. It is a documented fact that AFAG continuously attacked Dr Afari Gyan when he was chairman of the EC and at various point of his sterling career, they either demonstrated against his stewardship or called for his resignation. Refer to the links below: (http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201309/112927.php, http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/AFAG-Threatens-EC-Ghana Peace-Ahead-Of-Elections-249105)

CenProG is therefore not surprised at the posture of AFAG in relation to the current Chairperson of the EC because immediately after her appointment, leading members of AFAG were all over the Ghanaian media landscape claiming her appointment was questionable. Many other frivolous claims were made against Mrs Charlotte Osei by AFAG. (See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/EC-boss-proven-she NDC sweetheart-AFAG-416923)

CenProG having availed your august institution to the facts, will like to respectfully request that you disregard the claims being made by AFAG against the person of Mrs Charlotte Osei, who short but impressive stay as the Chairperson of EC has set Ghana as a beacon of democracy in Africa and the world. It is also worthy of note that with all the pressure and character assassination by groups such as AFAG, the EC Chairperson did her work diligently and devoid of fear or favour for any of the political groupings in Ghana.

CenProG therefore commends the contribution of Mrs Charlotte Osei to Ghana’s democracy and deem her worthy of this prestigious award by Chatham House. In a country where it is uncommon for women to achieve such height, we find it refreshing that the EC chairperson continues to excel in her new role and serves as a role model to young girls across the country. An award for Mrs Charlotte Osei will not be for just her role in our democratic process but will be a plus for women empowerment in Ghana.

We humbly recommend that you ignore the frivolous and vexatious petition by AFAG whose interest is not that of Ghanaians but of a political party. It is the wish of Ghanaians that officers who excel are awarded so that many others will take a cue and hold themselves as such. Mrs Charlotte Osei is a shining example and therefore worthy of the commendations she rightly deserves.

Yours faithfully,

SAWADOGO MAHMOUD (EXECUTIVE SECRETARY)