With the exit of Dr. Kwadjo Afari Gyan, following his retirement in June as Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) and the entry of Mrs. Charlotte Osei to take his place, the number of women in the EC has increased.
Four other women namely MS Georgina Opoku-Amankwaa, Deputy Chair-Finance and Administration, Pauline Adobea Dadzawa, Sa-Adatu Maida and Mrs. Rebecca Kabuke Adjaho added to Mrs. Charlotte Osei make up five to choose a president for Ghana in 2016.
This is history in the making because the EC has been male-dominated from the 1990s and it also goes to strengthen President John Dramani Mahama’s administration’s commitment to afford women the opportunity to serve in the highest capacity in the country.
Even though some New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwarts have criticized the credentials of Dr. Afari Gyan especially in the conduct of the 2012 elections, which they lost miserably but blamed him for, it is clear from the compliments Dr. Afari Gyan received on his retirement that he set a very high standard at the EC which will require a very committed and competent person to take up.
It is significant to note that all the members of the commission were appointed by the previous regimes spanning from President Agyekum Kuffuor through the late President John Evans Atta Mills to President John Mahama.
Sulley Amadu was appointed by John Atta Mills, then Ghanaian President following the retirement of David Kangah who had served in that capacity for 19 years. Georgina Opoku Amankwa was appointed by president John Mahama to replace Sarfo-Kantanka who had served for about 20 years. Mrs. Paulina Adobea Dadzawa, an administrator and Ebenezer Aggrey Fynn, a Management Consultant were appointed by president Kufuor in consultation with the Council of State of Ghana in February 2004.
No Ghanaian questioned or challenged their choices. However when Dr. Afari Gyan’s time was due, calls started coming from obvious quarters for president Mahama to ‘do broad consultations’ before he replaces him.
Some national newspapers came out with speculation about the person that successor should be and who should not be considered for the position. Some Groups Proffered names and canvassed for the president to settle on them.
Then the president made his choice and presented Mrs. Osei, a good dribble to all their speculations and a gender they had not envisaged he will settle on because of their suspicion on the choice he will make.
The president’s choice has set some of these groups mad and behaving like cows in a china shop breaking anything insight at will, in protest to the Supreme Court to interpret God knows what. Some of their grievances are as funny as can be: that there wasn’t broad consultation before the choice was made, that the choice, even though is competent, is too young and will be EC Chair for over twenty-eight years before she retires at 70 years. There are some of them who are associating her with party colours.
The absurdity about all the scheming the detractors are engaging in, like they did in the Election petition when they wanted a sitting president removed’ is that the EC Chair has started her duties already. Her first principal outing was in the Talensi bye-election.
In the General election in 2016, even though whoever emerges the winner will do so on proper political strategy and the message and support it garners by way of popular votes, it is the combined effort of the Electoral Commission that will determine who wins. And, five out of this lot are women.
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