Kufuor praises the powers of the President of the European Commission

General News of Monday, July 8, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-07-08

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor expressed confidence in the President of the Electoral Commission (EC), Ms. Jean Mensa, baderting that her track record of integrity and professionalism would be put to good use for her work. arbitrator in the national political space.

The former president said that he knew Mrs. Mensa long ago even before he became president and that "you have come to this office with a wealth of experience and I am convinced that the commission is about the right path".

He added that the EC was the pivot around which the whole political system of the country had to turn, adding that, just like a referee in a football match, the referee's performance could cause tumults among the players and the players. supporters, but that "you must be fair and impartial."

Power and tension

Former President Kufuor recalled that wherever there was power, there were also tensions, but he said that "for you to be accepted, people must trust and follow what you do."

He said this when the EC President, Ms. Mensa, accompanied by her two deputies, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare and Mr. Samuel Tettey, and a member of the commission, Ms. Adwoa Abrefa, paid her a courtesy call at his home in Accra.

The visit was part of an EC engagement with stakeholders of the electoral process to inform them of the various reforms undertaken by the commission to ensure the smooth running of the electoral processes of the country and to contribute the proper performance of the EC's mandate. .

Training of EC staff

More importantly, the former President said that training of EC officials at all levels is important to ensure that their professional skills reach the required level.

This, he explained, is that any EC official who was not up to the task would end up spoiling the hard work of the commission.

For this reason, he stressed the need to "professionalize your agents", especially at the lowest levels of the electoral system.

Former President Kufuor urged EC leaders to remain firm and focused regardless of the pressures that could be exerted on them for them to act contrary to their mandate.

According to the former President, it is because "the stability and peace of the nation depend on the quality of the work you do".

Reflects integrity

In this regard, he urged the chair of the commission to "let the integrity that you wear reflect on your work" and warned against laxity and party bias.

He felt that the general elections of 2020 would be crucial for the country and that, therefore, every step of the process had to be taken with all the seriousness and importance that it deserved.

"The basic principles of transparency and accountability must reflect on you," he stressed, stressing that no one should force the commission to do what is wrong, "not even the president."

He added that "you should not be afraid of transparency when you tell the truth."

Guard against the creation of new constituencies

The former president also urged the EC to avoid the temptation to create new constituencies following the creation of new districts, otherwise Ghana's example might seem derisory for other more populated jurisdictions but the number of deputies is relatively small.

Ms. Mensa, for her part, said that the visit was aimed primarily at baduring the former president that the EC was determined to hold credible, free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in the country.

"In all that we do, my team and I are attentive to Articles 45 and 46 of the 1992 Constitution and would like to badure you that, in carrying out our mandate, these articles would be our guide. We will ensure that, to the best of our ability and within our means, we act within the limits of our mandate, as stated in the Constitution, "she said.

"Over the years," she said, "the EC has worked like a body on itself and that's one of the things we really want to see off the ground. So we are here to really demystify the commission's operations and secrecy mantle that has enveloped our operations. "

She added that the EC recognized the experience and knowledge gained by the former president over the years in the political and electoral space of the country.

The commission, she said, was optimistic in drawing on her knowledge and experience in pursuing her mandate for the general progress of the nation.