Akufo-Addo’s removal of Charlotte Osei has eroded trust in EC– Prof Agyeman-Duah

Former Senior UN Governance Advisor, Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah, has raised serious concerns over the implications of the dismissal of former Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei. He said in an interview that it sent a signal, which has so far remained the factor influencing public perception about the EC. This is aptly timed, given the recent Afrobarometer survey that showed the worrying trend of increased perception of corruption within the EC, 40 days to the 2024 elections.

What these findings show is a worrying decline in public confidence in the EC, where only 28% of the respondents indicate trust in it, against the 59% recorded in 2012. Drawing a straight link between Osei’s removal and the current perception of the EC, Prof Agyeman-Duah said the opposition threat to remove her, if elected, had become a reality. He emphasizes the ease with which and the speed at which the removal took place-a single petition to the President-despite his status as head of the EC and questions being raised over the very independence of the latter body.

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That incident, according to Prof. Agyeman-Duah, brought discredit to the EC and created a narrative of political interference. He said that it was always going to be an uphill task for these current officers of the EC because of the circumstance under which they were appointed, raising questions about their credibility. According to the advisor, this event has emboldened opposition criticism and fostered a cycle of mistrust that the EC must address in order to restore public confidence.

This is an issue of public trust and, to some extent, jeopardizing the ability of the EC to organize free and fair elections. The insights by Prof. Agyeman-Duah reveal that the challenges facing the EC in how to regain the public trust necessitate proactive actions to be taken in order to address these perceptions.

Source: Xtrememediaonline.com