Nyaho T’s Uppercut With Or Without Proof

If EC Is The Greatest Threat To Ghana’s Democracy In Ghana, Where Is The Evidence Nyaho-Tamakloe?

MONTECRISTO writes

I have known Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe since 1979. That is enough time politically to have a feel of someone that vocal. As a nephew of Speaker Peter Ala Adjetey and grassroots party apparatchiki, and later as an Editor at The Chronicle who has twice interviewed him, I also believe I can assess him.

Nyaho and I know that in those days that they tried coups and succeeded or failed as we have seen too often under Kutu Acheampong, JJ Rawlings, and Kwame Nkrumah, the gap between the people and government appointees was massive.

That is not to say what we have is the best or that we cannot improve it. Indeed, most Ghanaians feel short changed by both political parties and would wish there were a robust Third Force as Nyaho, Attoh Quarshie, Paa Willie, Sam Okudzeto and GK Agama felt some time ago in 1969 and ten years later in 1979.

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

So, when a founding member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) with stature claims is not pleased with the manner in which the Electoral Commission (EC) is conducting its activities, I believe he must have concrete evidence to support that and not just jump to conclusions.

Worse is when Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe warns that some of the Commission’s actions – and which actions are those that the reporter couldn’t himself verify – could undermine Ghana’s democratic credentials?

Speaking at an anti-corruption event, especially this one held at the GNAT Hall in Accra on Monday, September 2, was no opportunity to vent feelings, without marshalling the succinct arguments as an educated and indeed high profile person, who was also an ambassador and ought to know basic diplomacy. .

But Nyaho would still insist that “at the moment, the greatest threat to our democracy is the Electoral Commission, that is the greatest threat to our democracy, and if we are not careful, they will lead this country into destruction, mark my words”

Again, he would add that the EC’s conduct poses a significant threat to the stability of the nation and then tout his records as being part of coup d’etat in this country, and spending five years of his life in prison for breaking the law as a subvert.

Frivolity, mischief

Without checking other sources because he has an affinity with a particular media that he uses or uses him, he cited specific instances, including supposed unauthorised transfers of voters from one constituency to another, which he argued were done without the necessary consent and could potentially disrupt the electoral process.

Then he quizzes: “How on earth can transfers be made from one particular constituency to another without the consent of others? These are facts,” he quizzed.

Understandably, as the favourite network reported, this controversy, and it remains only a controversy and not act, comes at a time when the EC is under increased scrutiny NOT by stakeholders but the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the country prepares for the 2024 general elections.

Controversy settled

I thought I read a piece and argument that Nyaho’s media and Nyaho himself would appreciate in the light of the 2012Election Petition, the 2020 Election Petition and the rulings of 2012, with reforms that the EC was directed to make – not under the NPP – but an NDC administration.

But we must also check that and make an assessment of the situation against the background of Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan’s peccadilloes as Head of the Electoral Commission before he exited. Then, again, we can come back to the sessions that the EC have had with the Legislature recently, all aimed at ensuring credible elections.

Below is the argument set forth in the piece I just saw on sustaining credibility into 2024 based on a recorded case in two Northern Regions and the collective effort of the EC, Ghana Police Service, and ordinary citizens in righting wrongs and exposing irregularity that may also be a criminality if police established its case and the courts make a determination. And that how we build nations.

“If we all as stakeholders in the political and electoral landscape have our genuine concerns, the EC has proven, without any shadow of doubt that, together with the Ghana Police Service, the political parties and the larger citizenry, we can work together to remove and contain rot and mischief from any source.

Indeed, in my opinion, the EC has just succinctly made that assurance about not shielding any of its officers, both permanent and temporary, found complicit in any electoral malpractices.

It is therefore assuring the public, particularly political stakeholders and, particularly the opposition National Democratic Congress, that it the EC is committed to putting Ghana first, as a credible and strategic state institution.

That assurance followed alleged illegal voter transfers which noise reverberated particularly on the corridors of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its allies in a section of the media, though at a subsequent press conference, it failed to point to hard, unassailable evidence.

Objectivity

It would turn out that, before the NDC itself had proven a case, some transfers were done in one or two parts of the country and our problematic Northern Regions, without the consent of the affected voters from two polling stations in two constituencies in the Tamale South and one polling station in the Sagnarigu constituency to the Pusiga constituency in the Upper East region.

Per the provision of the law, the registered voter must be physically present to request for the transfer of vote to another polling station.

Again, as the EC explained in its Let the Citizens Know engagement forum, with the media a partner, “the transfer of vote can only be done at the district offices and requires the presence of the voter which must be verified using either his or her face or fingerprints.”

Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Bossman Asare, revealed that after concluding it’s preliminary investigations, the voters alluded to the fact that their voter ID cards were collected by one Haruna Muniru ostensibly for the processing of a loan.

Caught

The said Haruna Muniru has therefore been arrested by the police and is currently on bail, after investigations revealed that voter transfers were indeed effected for 38 individuals using the credentials of an EC official, with the EC systems affirming the illegality.

Again, it, must be refreshing that, while a political party or media organisation may have had concerns with abuse of the processes, there is, for now, very insignificant and negligible evidence to show that the EC has been compromised or is negligently and criminally culpable.

While the Commission has suspended the Pusiga District Electoral Officer and invited him to respond to the Commission’s findings, it also insists that “any such transfers will be reversed and the perpetrators of such acts shall be dealt with according to the law.”

The law ultimate as remedy

The Commission has suspended the Pusiga district electoral officer and has invited him to respond to the Commission’s findings.

But we all as stakeholders may rest assured as Dr Asare pointed out that the provisional voters register was not the final voters register. Indeed, the central objective of the exhibition exercise was to correct any anomalies before the final register was produced.

It is therefore obvious that, after the exhibition exercise, the final register will be compiled with corrections effected as a robust and credible set of records and document.

That political parties will receive copies of those sets of records and documents is another ingredient in affirming, in the opinion of the Daily Statesman, our collective efforts and vigilance in showing to the world again that we have truly arrived as a credible elections management nation.

This collective responsibility and objectivity in assessing issues, and complementing the effort, in my opinion, should be genuine concern, again, by all stakeholders – not just one disgruntled political party and its allies in the media.

Source:inquirernewsroom.com