Electoral Commission of Ghana

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Electoral Commission of Ghana
Logo of the Electoral Commission of Ghana
Agency overview
Formed1993
Superseding agency
  • Interim National Electoral Commission
JurisdictionGovernment of Ghana
HeadquartersAccra
5°33′43″N 0°12′08″W / 5.5618706°N 0.2021849°W / 5.5618706; -0.2021849
Agency executives
  • Chairman
  • Deputy Chairman
  • Deputy Chairman
Child agencies
  • (etc.)
Key document
Websiteec.gov.gh

The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) is the official body in

Jean Adukwei Mensah reverted to the old logo showing the Coat of arms of Ghana[6] and a ballot box showing the hand casting its votes, after the controversy over the new logo.[7][8][9]

As at 2023, there are 33,367 poling station across the country with 38,622 voting stations.[10]

Members

The commission is made up of seven members. The position of chairman became vacant in

Jean Adukwei Mensa along with her two new deputies, Samuel Tettey and Eric Bossman as well as another new member Adwoa Asuama Abrefa were all sworn in by President Akufo-Addo on 1 August 2018.[19] In February 2004, three members of the commission retired. They were Elizabeth Solomon, Mrs. Theresa Cole, and Professor Ernest Dumor. Another member, Dr. M. K. Puni, died in June 2005. Dixon Afreh is a former member of the Commission who left when he was appointed as a Justice of the Appeal Court in October 1994. The Electoral Commission of Ghana established a biometric system of registration for the electoral register prior to the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections to prevent double registration and to eliminate ghost names in the old register. In preparation for the 2020 elections, 257 of the 260 offices all over the country were linked on the internet. MTN won the bid to provide the internet network and Persol Systems, the bid to build the Data Centre.[20]

The Electoral Commission was allocated a total amounts of, GH¢328,716,008, GH¢141, 267,303 and GH¢822,897,500 for 2014, 2015 and 2016 financial years respectively. The high expenditures for 2014 and 2015 were due to the 2014 Limited Voters Registration Exercise, the conduct of the 2015 District Level Elections and the procurement of 40,000 additional Biometric Verification Devices. The commission was allocated an amount of GH¢822,897,500 for the 2016 General Elections. However, the cash requirement for the elections is GH¢1,139,885,991 leaving a funding gap of GH¢316,988,491. The 2016 allocated budget representing 150% and 482.5% higher than 2014 and 2015 budgets respectively is due to the Conduct of the 2016 General Elections. With respect to Compensation of Employees, an amount of GH¢20,193,101was expended in 2014, whilst in 2015, the actual expenditure stood at GH¢19,976,918, a decrease by GH¢216,183 representing 1.08% due to retirement of some staff in the commission. In 2016, an amount of GH¢15,248,621 was allocated for compensation of employees. In the case of Goods and Services, an amount of GH¢304,142,217.86 was expended in 2014. The expenditure in 2015 also stood at GH¢121,290,385 representing a decrease of 150.7%compared to 2014. The decrease in expenditure was as a result of the absence of major electoral activities in 2015. However, following the Supreme Court decision to cancel the District Level Elections, an additional amount of GH¢90,212,775 was allocated to re-conduct the elections. This resulted to cumulative allocation of GH¢231,480,078 in 2015 in respect to the conduct of the District Level Elections. Out of the GH¢822,897,500 allocation for 2016, 97.21% amounting to GH¢800,000,000 represents Goods and Services, 1.85% amounting to GH¢15,248,621 represents employee compensation and 0.92% amounting to GH¢7,648,879 represents non-financial assets.

There are 17,027,641 registered voters as at August 2023.

OFFICE NAME TERM
Chairman
Jean Adukwei Mensa[18]
 August 2018 – present
Deputy Chairman Eric Asare Bossman[18] August 2018 – present
Deputy Chairman Samuel Tettey [18] August 2018 – present
Member Mrs. Paulina Adobea Dadzawa[17] February 2004 – present
Member Salima Ahmed Tijani[21] March 2023 – present[22]
Member Peter Appiahene[21] March 2023 – present[22]
Member Rev Akua Ofori Boateng[21] March 2023 – present[22]
Member Adwoa Asuama Abrefa August 2018[23] – present
Past Chairman
Chairman Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan 1993 – June 2015
Chairman Charlotte Osei June 2015 – June 2018[13]
Past Deputy Chairman
Deputy Chairman Kwame Afreh[24] 1992–1994
Deputy Chairman David Azey Adeenze-Kangah 1993 – April 2012[15]
Deputy Chairman Kwadwo Sarfo-Kantanka 1993 – April 2013[25]
Deputy Chairman Sulley Amadu[15] May 2012 – June 2018[13]
Deputy Chairman Georgina Opoku Amankwaa[16] July 2013 – June 2018[13]
Past members
Member Dr M K Puni[26] ? – June 1995
Member Elizabeth Solomon[26] ? – February 2004
Member Theresa Cole[26] ? – February 2004
Member Ernest Dumor[26] ? – February 2004
Member Nana Amba Eyiiba I, Efutuhemaa February 2004 – 2010
Member Eunice Akweley Roberts February 2004 – 2010
Member Mrs. Paulina Adobea Dadzawa[17] February 2004 – 2018[27]
Member Ebenezer Aggrey Fynn[17] March 2004 – March 2023
Member Sa-Adatu Maida November 2010[28] – March 2023
Member Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo November 2010[28] – March 2023
Source:Electoral Commission of Ghana

International support

The claim that the commission received a successful support to the close of

UNDP.[29]

Former members

In February 2004, three members of the commission retired. They were Elizabeth Solomon, Mrs. Theresa Cole and Professor Ernest Dumor. Another member, Dr. M. K.Puni, died in June 2005. Dixon Afreh is a former member of the Commission who left when he was appointed as a Justice of the Appeal Court in October 1994.

Council of State of Ghana in February 2004 and sworn in on 5 March 2004. They are Mrs. Paulina Adobea Dadzawa, an administrator, Nana Amba Eyiiba I, Efutuhemaa and Krontihemaa of the Oguaa Traditional Area and Eunice Akweley Roberts, an educationist and human resource practitioner. They were all women. Ebenezer Aggrey Fynn, a management consultant was also appointed to the commission by the president to bring it to its full complement of seven members.[17]

In June 2018, the chairperson, Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwah were removed from office by President Akufo-Addo on the recommendation of a committee set up by the chief justice.[31]

Elections

The Electoral Commission of Ghana established a biometric system of registration for the electoral register prior to the 2012

parliamentary elections to prevent double registration and to eliminate ghost names in the old register.[32][33] In preparation towards the 2020 elections, 257 of the 260 offices all over the country were linked on the internet. MTN won the bid to provide the internet network and Persol Systems, the bid to build the Data Center.[34] Two weeks before the 2020 elections, the commission indicated that it had put in place resources to ensure that the results and declaration of winners, would be done within 24 hours of the end of voting.[35]

Preceding Institutions

The lives of Electoral Commissions prior to the Fourth Republic of Ghana were interrupted due to military coups. At the time of the UNIGOV referendum in 1976, Justice Isaac K. Abban was appointed by the Supreme Military Council under Ignatius Kutu Acheampong.[36] In 1979, Justice Joseph Kingsley-Nyinah was the Electoral Commissioner during the general election. For the 1992 Ghanaian presidential election and parliamentary election, the Electoral Commissioner was Justice Josiah Ofori Boateng.

Reform

In May 2021, the EC agreed on some proposals to reform the conduct of elections in the country, such as conduct of voter registration exercises all year round, exhibitions, filing of nominations and special voting.[37] The E.C is seeking to change the presidential and parliamentary elections from December 7 to November 7. This falls under reforms yet to be Implemented.[38]

See also

References

  1. ^ "ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTORAL COMMISSION". Electoral Commission of Ghana. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  2. ^ "Act Establishing The EC". Electoral Commission of Ghana Official Website. Electoral Commission of Ghana. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Who Will Be The Next Chairman of the Electoral Commission". Modernghana. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Afari-Gyan Created 35 Constituencies and Parliamentary Seats with Just 4 Months to Election 2012". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  5. ^ Ankiilu, Masahudu (26 June 2015). "Ghana Gets First Woman EC Boss". African Eye Report. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Ghana's Electoral Commission reverts to using its original logo". pulse ghana. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. ^ "EC reverts to 'original' logo". Myjoyonline. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Coalition urges EC to engage 'opposers' of new voters' register". Myjoyonline. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  9. ^ ""Change of EC logo cost GH₵16,000"". Graphic Online. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Electoral Commission – Transparency, Fairness, Integrity". Ec Government Of Ghana. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Electoral Commission of Ghana". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Why Charlotte Osei and two EC deputies were sacked – CJ's report". Graphic Online. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Akufo-Addo sacks Charlotte Osei, two deputies". AfricaWeb Publishing B.V. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Mahama appoints new EC boss". Ghanaweb. Ghana Home Page. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  15. ^ a b c "Amadu Sulley sworn in as Deputy Electoral Commissioner". Ghanaweb. Ghana Home Page. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  16. ^ a b "EC gets new Deputy Chairman". TV3 Onlline. TV3 Network. Retrieved 29 June 2015.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ a b c d e "Three new members of EC sworn into office". Politics of Friday, 5 March 2004. Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  18. ^ a b c d "Profiles of 4 nominated EC top officials". citinewsroom.com. Jonas Nyabor/citinewsroom.com/Ghana. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  19. ^ "Enjoy no 'honeymoon'; let past events guide you to make EC better – Akufo-Addo to Jean Mensa". Ghanaweb. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Electoral Commission, Biography". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  21. ^ a b c "Akufo-Addo swears in three new Electoral Commissioners". GhanaWeb. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  22. ^ a b c "Meet the 3 new commissioners of the EC". GhanaWeb. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Akufo-Addo swears in Jean Mensa, 3 other electoral commissioners". GhanaWeb. 1 August 2018. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  24. ^ "President Kufuor mourns Justice Afreh". ghanaweb.com. Ghana Web. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  25. ^ Frimpong, Enoch Darfah. "Kantanka retires from Electoral Commission". Graphic Online. Graphic Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  26. ^ a b c d "The Commissioners". ModernGhana. ModernGhana.com. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  27. ^ Frimpong, Enoch Darfah. "EC left with only 3 commissioners; Akufo-Addo looking for 4 to replace". Graphic online.
  28. ^ a b "Changes at Electoral Commission: President appoints two". Ghanaweb. Ghana Home Page. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  29. ^ a b c d "EXPERTS GATHER IN GHANA TO DEVELOP IMPROVED STANDARDS FOR AFRICAN ELECTIONS" (PDF) (Press release). National Democratic Institute. 9 November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2011.
  30. ^ "The Commissioners". Official Website. Electoral Commission of Ghana. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  31. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ^ "Compilation of Biometric Register Begins March 24". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 14 February 2011.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ "IEA under Jean Mensa in 2014 advised EC against new voters' register in election year - Report". GhanaWeb. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  34. ^ "257 EC offices linked through fibre cables". Graphic Online. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  35. ^ "December 7 polls: Results in 24 hours – EC assures". Graphic Online. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  36. ^ "Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Biography". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  37. ^ Lartey, Nii Larte (20 May 2021). "EC to implement continuous voter registration". Citi Newsroom. Retrieved 20 May 2021.[permanent dead link]
  38. ^ "Election Reforms – Electoral Commission". ec.gov.gh. Retrieved 16 August 2023.

External links

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