We’re making 'too much noise' about EC steering c’ttee’ – NDC

efua 22:14 - 19 February 2016

Opposition parties and some pressure groups have accused the Commission of not being objective in the selection of the committee members, some of whom are said to be NDC loyalists.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticized opposition parties and political commentators of making unnecessary noise about the composition of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) steering committee.

Director of Elections for the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo said the EC is an independent institution and persons accusing the Commission of being in alliance with the ruling party must desist from doing so.

“I think that we are making so much noise about this committee. In any case, what is the steering committee going to do…?” he asked on Radio Ghana’s Behind the News programme.

The EC on Friday announced its decision to take a second look at its 18-member steering committee following protests that the committee has been compromised.

Mr. Ofosu Ampofo stated that the Electoral Commissioner “also votes and if she is going to vote, she is going to vote for a party so if we decide that we are going to dissect people and look at their backgrounds, then we may end up not asking anybody to represent anybody on any committee.”

“I think that we are taking the matter too far,” he stressed.

He however, expressed regrets that despite all the major issues which were discussed with the EC on Friday, the issue of the composition of the steering committee has rather generated public debate.

“It is unfortunate that the real issues that were on the agenda which we took over three hours to discuss have rather been relegated to the background and an issue which was brought as other matters has rather taken the centre stage,” he remarked.

Explaining what took place at the political parties’ meeting with the EC, the NDC’s Director of Elections said: “There was a consensus by all the political parties that the Electoral Commission should have done some broader consultation to come out with the steering committee.”

“At least as political parties, we are key stakeholders we should had been notified that this committee is being put in place,” he added.

Mr. Ofosu Ampofo indicated that the NDC as a political party is not against the idea of steering committee and neither did it speak against it “but we spoke against the fact that they should have done broader consultation. They should have also come clearly on the objectives, the terms of reference and others and carry the political parties along.”