The General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nana Yaa Jantuah, has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s decision to petition the Council of State over the President’s appointment of politically connected persons to the Electoral Commission (EC) is an act in futility.
She explained that the Council of State was involved in the appointment processes of the two persons, hence the NDC should not expect any change of stance from them.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in March this year, appointed and swore in Dr Peter Appiahene, Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani and Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng to the Electoral Management Board following the retirement of three members.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) petitioned the Council of State for the removal of Dr Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani because of their affiliation with NPP and claimed Dr Appiahene had held several positions within the party.
It noted that the positions held included member of the 2022 Bono Regional Election Committee, Bono Regional Information Technology Director for Election 2020 and Bono Regional D-day Coordinator for Election 2020 all for the NPP.
On appointment of Hajia Tijani, the petition said she was a staunch member of the NPP since her family had deep ties with the party, as she was married to Sheikh T.B Damba, former Second National Vice Chairman of NPP and Ghana’s immediate past Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2017 to 2021.
It stated that her mother, Hajia Samata Bukari was the first female Vice Chairperson of NPP in the Northern Region while her sister, Hajia Abibata Zakariah is Chief Executive Officer of Microfinance and Loans Centre (MASLOC) and former contestant of the party in the 2020 parliamentary primaries in Yendi Constituency.
Nana Jantuah questioned whether it was not the same Council of State that was consulted to choose the three people because according to the 1992 Constitution when the president made the appointments, he consulted with the Council of State before an approval was made.
“What does NDC expect the Council of State to do? Can they reverse their own decision? The Council of State has been privy to all protests following appointment and has remained silent, thus confirming their complicity in the action.
“Besides, they heard all arguments that went on, they have not responded, they knew the people they approved for the President to appoint, to avoid repetition of the situation in future, the CPP is advocating the Constitution be amended.
“It will take away the president’s powers to appoint persons to the EC but done by committee of politicians or political parties, then the person goes through Public Service Commission,” Nana Jantuah proffered.
