EC must Uphold Principles of Probity, Accountability, and Transparency – Edudzi Tameklo

The Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe, has emphasized that the Electoral Commission is required to adhere to the principles of probity, accountability, and transparency as mandated by the 1992 Constitution. He asserts that the Commission cannot claim independence from these constitutional obligations and must ensure its activities align with them.

During his appearance on New Day – a program on TV3, Edudzi Tamekloe highlighted that the NDC had identified five discrepancies in the voters’ register and had requested a meeting with the Electoral Commission in the presence of the media to underscore their concerns. However, this request was rejected by the EC.

“Now, the Electoral Commission, being a creature of the Constitution, must subject its activities to these constitutional principles—nothing more, nothing else. While some claim that the Electoral Commission is independent by law, it is not independent of transparency, accountability, and probity,” he stated.

He criticized the EC for its lack of action regarding its claims of wanting a transparent election, suggesting that their statements do not match their actions.

Lawyer Edudzi Tameklo pointed out significant issues within the voter register, including instances where 25 individuals had their voter identities transferred without consent, resulting in the suspension of the District Director in Pusiga. He noted that over 15,000 individuals have had their identities compromised and that more than 200,000 people are experiencing issues with their voter identities, problems that the EC acknowledged but claimed to have resolved internally.

He questioned how the EC could assert these issues were resolved without external verification, hence a need for an audit of the voters’ register, which the EC has refused to accept.

He recalled a past incident in 2015 when the NPP claimed that 75,000 Togolese were on the voters’ register, leading to calls for a new register. An eminent committee investigated this claim and concluded that while an audit was warranted, the demand for a new voters’ register was not justified.

Lawyer Tameklo contended that the current Commissioners at the EC are acting in favor of the NPP government because they perceive their job security as dependent on the NPP’s continued rule rather than on constitutional integrity.

“The removal of Charlotte Osei by the NPP set a precedent indicating that constitutional guarantees of security of tenure are insufficient without a supportive president,” he remarked.
He urged citizens to participate in demonstrations demanding an audit of the voters’ register to promote transparency and accountability in upcoming elections.