General News of Wednesday, 22 May 2019

Source: peacefmonline.com

Go to court if you have problems with the EC – Oppong-Nkrumah tells NDC

Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah play videoKojo Oppong-Nkrumah

Minister for Information and Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayerebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has asked the opposition NDC to go to court if they have challenges with the Electoral Commission.

He says it will be "better to do that than to publicly denigrate" the Electoral Commission.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia', programme, he explained that the Electoral Commission is an independent body recognized by international bodies so publicly declaring that the Commission is biased with no evidence has no basis.

He therefore asked Ghanaians to "reject attempts by any group or political party to bastardize the Electoral Commission".

He added that he believes the Electoral Commission has no intention to rig the 2020 elections to favour any party especially the ruling government.

Former President John Mahama has cast doubts over the Electoral Commission’s (EC) ability to conduct neutral general elections in 2020.

Ahead of the election, Mr. Mahama said the EC needed to prove doubters wrong.

“They need to prove us wrong. We have our doubts that they can be neutral and fair . . . the current posture and the way they are conducting things makes us doubt that they will be neutral and fair in 2020.”

Mr. Mahama also expressed concern over the lack of transparency and consultation from the Commission.

“The EC is not a secret society. It is not somebody’s private closet that needs to be shut and us not know what is going on there . . . they should open all the process.,” he said.

“When the EC starts behaving like the representatives of political parties are a nuisance [to the commission] ..... then this affects the trust and confidence the people have in the EC [which is supposed to be] a neutral arbiter,” the former President added.