The Functional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the deputy Electoral Commissioner (EC), Dr. Bossman Asare to withdraw his statements canvassing for “Yes” votes in the upcoming December 17 referendum.
According to the NDC, Dr Asare should immediately apologize to Ghanaians for his “unfortunate” conduct considering the sensitive role his office plays in overseeing election processes in the country.
In a press statement released today, signed by the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the NDC asserted that, the conduct of Dr Bossman was unfair to the people and a “monumental breach of basic ethics of public service”.
The NDC is demanding of all EC officials to be neutral in the upcoming referendum because such is how they are mandated by the law.
“We therefore demand from Dr. Bossman Asare and all Commissioners and Staff of the Electoral Commission to remain neutral and serve as worthy referees in the upcoming referendum and subsequent elections as they are mandated by law to do at all times.”
Below is the full press release:
NDC DEMANDS UNQUALIFIED APOLOGY FROM THE DEPUTY EC CHAIRMAN DR. BOSSMAN ASARE FOR CANVASSING FOR “YES VOTES” IN THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM
The Functional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has noted with deep shock and utter disappointment the position taken by Dr. Bossman Asare, the Deputy Electoral
Commission Chairperson asking Ghanaians to Vote YES in the proposed referendum to amend Article 55(3) to allow for political party involvement in District Assembly and Local Government Unit elections.
In a video making the rounds, Mr. Asare was clearly heard supporting the position of the President and for that matter the NPP in their campaign for YES votes in the upcoming referendum, an action that is in contravention of the demands of the office he occupies.
The conduct of Dr. Bossman Asare is most unusual and unfortunate, considering the office he currently occupies as the Deputy Chairman of the EC, the very institution clothed with the powers to organize and oversee the upcoming referendum. By virtue of the office he occupies, he is required to function as a referee and not as an interested party.
With this conduct and reference to past comments such as “the NDC is an existential threat to Ghana’s democracy”, as well as many others of this nature, lends credence to our long held fears that the Electoral Commission as an institution may taking steps to rig any election in the interest of the ruling government, including the upcoming referendum.
We are by this statement, calling on Dr. Bossman Asare to as a matter of urgency withdraw his comments canvassing for YES Votes and present an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for abusing his office as a referee in this election or resign his position to allow him the opportunity to join the NPP to properly canvass for the YES Votes for the upcoming referendum.
Anything short of that, will trigger the use of the appropriate constitutional means to demand his removal as the Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission for this monumental breach of basic ethics of public service and particularly of his office.
We therefore demand from Dr. Bossman Asare and all Commissioners and Staff of the Electoral Commission to remain neutral and serve as worthy referees in the upcoming referendum and subsequent elections as they are mandated by law to do at all times.
Signed
Cde. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
General Secretary – NDC