The Electoral Commission (EC) has launched a 21-member Eminent Advisory Committee to enhance engagement and interactions between it and the public as Ghana prepares for the 2020 general elections

The committee, chaired by a former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Justice Emile Short, is part of the EC’s new approach of maintaining an open door that invites and responds to the concerns and interests of the citizenry.

Graphic Online’s Emmanuel Bonney reports that speaking at the launching ceremony on Tuesday, the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa said “with the benefits of lessons we have learnt from the past, it is now the avowed goal of the current administration of the EC to strengthen Ghanaians experience of the commission.

 

 

Mrs Mensa in outdooring the committee said the major rationale for its establishment was to demystify the Commission and prove its independence. The committee, she stated will serve as a window between the Commission and the public, stating that while the committee will serve to inform the public on the workings of the Commission, the committee members will also serve to pass on concerns from various members of the public to the Commission.

The committee, has a former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie as the deputy chairperson.

The other members are Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the National Peace Council; Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam; Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community; Rt. Rev Paul Kwabena Boafo, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana; Nana Ato Dadzie, a former Chief of Staff and Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, President of the National Charismatic Christian Churches.

The others are: Rev Dr Cyril G.K. Fayose, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana; Mr Tony Forson, President of the Ghana Bar Association; Rev. Dr. Paul Frimpong-Manso, Head of the Pentecostal Council; Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana; Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin, a Gender Advocate and Mr Roland Affail Monney, President of the GJA.

The rest are Nana Kobina Nketia V, Omanhene of the Essikado Traditional Area; Eric Oduro Osae, Advocate for decentralisation and democratic development in Ghana, Rev. Ekua Buabema Ofori-Boateng, Managing Director of ILF Consulting Engineers; Mr Sam Okudzeto, a Member of the Council of State; Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, a former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana and Dr. Yaw Baah, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress.