General News of Wednesday, 4 July 2018

Source: 3news.com

Former EC Chief Director wants EC rebranded, questions significance of logo

The old Ghana Electoral Commission logo (L) and the new logo (r The old Ghana Electoral Commission logo (L) and the new logo (r

Former Chief Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Kwame Damoah Agyeman, has stated that there is the need for the Commission to be rebranded.

According to him, the rebranding process must involve changing the logo of the commission because “it has no significance”.

He argues “The commission thrives on its integrity and since they have removed the top, the integrity is gone and so the commission needs to be rebranded.”

Speaking to Winston Amoah on 3FM’s Sunrise Tuesday, July 3, the chief director also observed the administrative style of the Commission put some fear into the staff, citing some past examples.

He recounted a situation where staff who were due for retirements were forced to retire prior to election period, which he claimed put fear in them.

“The administrative style of the EC brought some sort of fear to the staff because in the past, every activity was suspended during an election year because experienced hands were needed”, he said

“In 2016, there was a circular that from January, anybody who was due for retirement within that election year should take their leave prior to retirement before March because any leave after March will be abolished”, he added.

Former Chief Director of the EC made the observations while contributing to discussions on the removal of the EC Chairperson and her two deputies.

President Akufo-Addo on Thursday announced the removal of the chairperson of the EC, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku-Amankwah from office.

Read: Charlotte Osei, deputies sacked

This was after a committee set up by Chief Justice Sophia A.B Akuffo to investigate allegations of misconduct and incompetence found them guilty.

The committee also investigated allegations of abuse of office and conflict of interest.

The three have been involved in heated and spirited media warfare, accusing each other of wrongdoing.

It follows a petition filed by three citizens for their removal from office.

Read:[The Chronicle] Removal of EC Chair & deputies: How it all happened

He noted that “the commissioners are the cause of their own problem because they were accusing themselves after the petition of the concerned staffs”.

Meanwhlie, Programmes Officer for the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Paul Abrampah-Mensah also said “if issues of questioning the integrity of the institution arise; necessary actions must be put in place”.

“These issues affect the image and credibility of the institution”, he added.