THE HERO AND THE PATRIOT (Matthew 25:21)

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana is clear and unambiguous as to who has the sole authority to appoint the Electoral Commissioner.

Article 43(2) references Article 70 in the exercise of the President's role in the appointment of persons to the Electoral Commission.

The current EC Chairman, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, is presently on leave ahead of his retirement in June 2015.

Listening to Minority Spokesperson on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Joe Osei Owusu supporting calls for President John Dramani Mahama to ensure a broader consultation among key stakeholders before appointing a new Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC).

Reinforcing his politically skewed intention to support the call for greater transparency in naming a new Electoral Commissions boss, the Member of Parliament for Bekwai said both the President and the Council of State will serve Ghana’s democracy very well if they open the process to involve all stakeholders. The last time we checked, Joe Owusu is not member of the council of State to advice the President. He explained that “the council of state’s advice should go to the president after widespread consultation of stakeholders.” This is ignorance of the highest degree of the selection process enshrined in the constitution of Ghana. The motives of Joe Owusu are to undermine the constitution, and the Office of the President. He insisted that the council of state must listen to everyone who has suggestion to make, as well as involve as many people stakeholders as possible.

The Electoral Commission of Ghana was formed in 1992 prior to the 1992 elections after the military rule of His Excellency Flight Lt. Jerry John Rawlings who was Chairman of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC). In the quest of fairness in our political process, they came out with modalities to enhance our electoral process towards a better democracy in Ghana. The government of the day engaged political parties in Ghana to form the Interparty Advisory Committee (IPAC).

Another person on the bandwagon is John Boadu, the NPP National Organizer should have taken time to research on how the Eminent, the Strong, the Patriot Dr Kwadwo Afari Djan was appointed. John Boadu and his NPP were all over the political landscape posturing about the NDC and the Electoral commission during the election petition, making unfounded accusations the two is in alliance to pervert the electoral process. A fact they did not know is one of Kwadwo Afari Djan's job description is to declare someone a winner.

After the election petition initiated by the NPP did not go their way, they started calling for the head of Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan.

President Mahama did not fire the electoral commissioner for the NPP to cry foul but rather Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan is going on retirement on his own and it is upon the incumbent President to appoint his successor with the consultation of the Council of State, period.

NPP has always touted themselves as being the elitist in our society. But judging from the recent statements coming from the camp of the NPP, it is clear that they are a group of empty suits. Which parts of the constitution are they confused to comprehend? The good people of Ghana are beginning to see through the falsehood being perpetuated by the NPP and their collaborators to cast doubt on the next Electoral Commissioner.

When this Constitution was drafted no one knew who will get the chance to appoint an electoral commissioner but what we all knew and still know now is that the sitting President should appoint one with consultation of the council of state.

Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan was appointed under the provision granted by the Constitution to Former Pres. Flt Lt. Rawlings. And it is upon the authority given by the President through the constitution to Dr Afari Djan that declared former President Kuffuor as winner and subsequently, President of Ghana. Now the NPP are saying it is not about Afari Djan but it’s about the position of Electoral Commission.

We know the NPP was only comfortable with the Electoral Commission between 2000 and 2004 their confidence rose high after NPP were declared the winner and supported every decision by the commission until they lost. Indeed they alleged rigging over an election they supervised. They even attempted to stop the commission to declare president Atta Mills the winner. It is being said that President Kuffour appointed more deputies into the Electoral commission than any other President.

Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan, We Salute you. You are a Hero. You are a good example of a citizen of Ghana. We like your resilience. We love your honesty. Your name will ever be in the history books.

We wish you well. “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful to Ghana. Ayekoo.

To the NPP, it is about time they stop crying wolf.

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