The search for a new Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) has commenced as the current EC Boss, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan exits office in June.
Dr. Afari Gyan will embark on his statutory retirement at age 70; hence his vacant position will call for a new Chairman.
In respect of this development, political figures and civil society groups have been wondering about the next person to step into the shoes of the EC Boss.
In accordance with Article 70 (2) of the 1992 Constitution; “The President shall, acting on the advice of the Council of State, appoint the Chairman, Deputy Chairmen and other members of the Electoral Commission.”
It is in view of this that the Director of Elections of the Convention People's Party (CPP) has appealed to the Council of State to consider certain personalities he deems fit to be the next EC Chairman.
James Kwabena Bomfeh, speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that looking at the track record of suitable candidates, Mrs. Charlotte Osei, President of the National Commission of Civic Education and Gabriel Scott Pwamang, a private legal practitioner and a member of the constitutional Review Commission should be seriously considered.
Kabila, as the CPP Director of Elections is affectionately called described Lawyer Pwamang, who is a former General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC) as perhaps the best candidate to fill Afari-Gyan's shoes because of his neutrality and his legal background.
According to him, he (Kabila) being part of the 10-member Political Parties Committee on Electoral Commission reforms; would suggest these names to the Council of State because he trusts the capabilities of the afore-mentioned candidates.
“I’m not preempting the work of the Committee but I can tell you serious work has been done…I have no problem with anybody personally. I have added two to it that if the search is on, they should look at those two as well,” the CPP Youth activist said.
Meanwhile, four names have emerged as potential candidates to replace Dr. Afari Gyan.
"They are the Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that inquired into the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Mr Justice Senyo Dzamefe, who is also a Court of Appeal judge; the Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey; the Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations at the EC, Mr Amadu Sulley, and the Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi" as cited in the Monday edition of Daily Graphic.
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