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Decision to go on one month long recess unacceptable– CSO’s to EC LISTEN 1
Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to rescind its decision to go on break following the organization of the 2020 elections.
According to them, there are pressing and critical issues from the election that requires the EC to remain in service and they cannot afford a break.
“Given the current post-election context and the matters arising, some of which might require their attention, we find it unacceptable that the EC should be shutting down at this critical moment at this critical moment, and without any clarification to the public of the alternative arrangements that have been put in place,” the CSOs said in a statement.
The CSOs reaction comes after the EC announced that it will go on a Christmas and New Year break, effective Wednesday, December 23, 2020. A notice signed by the Deputy Chairman of Corporate Services at the Electoral Commission, Dr. Bossman Asare, stated that the staff of the electoral management body is expected to resume on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Following the successful and peaceful conduct of the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, Management has decided that the Commission will break for Christmas and New Year on Wednesday, 23rd December 2020 and resume duty on Tuesday, 19th January 2021, the notice read. The EC led by Mrs. Jean Mensa conducted the 2020 general elections on Monday, 7 December 2020.
The Electoral Commission says its senior leadership and some key operational staff are not going on break during the Christmas festivities and New Year.
According to a press release by the Commission, the senior leadership and key staff will continue to work
during the break to engage with key stakeholders in pursuance of our mandate to the people of Ghana .
All the field staff of the Electoral Commission across the 275 districts and 16 Regional Capitals will however be on break. Following the successful conduct of the 2020 general elections, all the field staff of the Electoral Commission across the 275 Districts and 16 Regional Capitals, having worked tirelessly throughout the year in spite of COVID 19, have been granted a welldeserved break. This break is aimed at promoting efficiency, while reducing staff and administrative costs.
According to the Commission, senior staff will be at post during the festive period to rectify anything that might come up on the recently held elections.
This clarification comes on the back of criticism by some section of Ghanaians and civil society organizations on the intended break by the EC amidst some challenges on the electoral results.
According to the CSOs comprising the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Civic Forum Initiative (CFI), Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and Norsacc, it is not the time for the EC to shut down considering the issues surrounding the recently-held polls.