Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have taken on the Electoral Commission for denying them accreditation to deploy election observers for the 2024 December election.
The CSOs in question are the Centre For Conflict Resolution Ghana, Jatikay Centre, HDRCGh, and FESF Foundation
Ghana.
The issue of non-intimidations, transparency, accountability, and credibility of the electoral process have been major considerations in determining whether the elections are free, fair, peaceful, and devoid of violence.
The organizations in question say the observations made by Civil Society Organizations and other independent entities during the electoral process were critical to the assessment of the elections along these through active monitoring of the election.
Speaking at a joint press conference, the Executive Director of Jatikay Centre and Security expert Adib Saani said the CSOs vehemently condemn the arbitrary decision by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mrs Jean Mensah to deny them accreditation to monitor the election.
He stressed that Mrs Jean Mensah’s unjustified denial of accreditation to the CSOs was not only a breach of the rights of their organizations to participate and contribute to ensuring free and credible elections as espoused by the EC, but raises critical questions about the EC’s commitment to an open and democratic election process.
“It is not only surprising but really worrying that the CE Chairperson could act with such impunity. I want to ask her just 3 questions
- On what grounds is the EC withholding accreditation to the CSOs for the 2024 election?
- Does the EC acknowledge that this move will heighten public skepticism and reduce the credibility of the election process?
- What mechanism, if any, has the EC put in place to assure citizens of free, fair election in the absence of CSOs observers?.”
Adib Saani urged the Jean Mensah led EC to take a second look at their decision and provide their organizations with the necessary accreditation to observe the December polls.
Director of Operations at the Centre for Conflict Resolution Masun Rockson also voiced disappointment with the EC’s action as the center has since 2008 been deploying election observers to monitor elections.
“We started in 2008, in 2012, 2016, and 2020 we have monitored all these elections without any problem even the Assin by-election we were there. I don’t understand why the EC Chairperson will deny us this time. I have been doing the follow-up all the time, and to my surprised this is the letter given to us and is signed by the Chairperson herself. No reason was given just like that, and I think this will undermine the principle of inclusiveness, fairness, and transparency that the EC is mandated to uphold,” he stated.
The CSOs, therefore, urged the Electoral Commission as an institution to immediately rescind the unilateral decision by Mrs Jean Mansah and grant accreditation to all qualified CSOs that have applied to observe 2024 election.
Story: Osman Abadoo/Radiogoldlive.com
