Legalisation of IPAC would jeopardize EC's independence - Charlotte Osei

The Electoral Commission (EC) has rejected calls for the legalisation of Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).

According to the Chairperson of the Commission, Charlotte Osei, the move would mean giving powers to the political parties to "dictate to the Electoral Commission."

Speaking on Joy FM Saturday morning, she said "Consensus doesn’t mean sitting on top and taking decisions. EMBs should never be controlled by political parties because political parties have their own agenda; legitimately so and that is why they are organized."

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"EMBs have their constitutional duties to the people. So we should never have a situation where the authority of the EMB or the decision making powers of the EMB can be overruled by political parties," she added.

Some have argued that agreements and recommendations of the IPAC have not been binding on political parties and the EC because IPAC does not have legal backing.

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But the EC boss noted that, "political parties can be involved in decision making of the EC as it pertains "in other jurisdictions" but they should never "take decisions above the EMB."

She also warned that the legal backing to IPAC would jeopardize the independence of the Electoral Commission.