Election Commission board members: Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani have been asked to resign from their posts on the board of the Ghanaian Electoral Commission by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO).
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo’s selections of Dr. Appiahene and Hajia Tijani in March 2023 have drawn criticism, due to their purported political ties to the running National Patriotic Party.
During a news conference on April 5, 2023 in Accra, Rev. Dr. Fred Degbey, a prominent CODEO member, demanded that the two resign in order to preserve the confidence of all parties in the commission.
The appointments were made in accordance with Article 43 (1 and 2) of the 1992 constitution, which outlines the Election Commission’s structure.
“We are painfully aware that voluntary and constitutionally grounded revocation of these unfortunate and democratically problematic EC appointments by the President is extremely unlikely, however nothing stops the affected appointees, namely Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani from voluntarily and honourably resigning from the EC. This will be in the supreme interest of our country’s continued democratic progress, election peace and credibility and indeed overall national interest” stated Dr Degbey.
The commission was established by the Electoral Commission Act (Act 451) of 1992 and is responsible for managing all public elections and ballot initiatives in Ghana.
As you may remember, Kofi Adams, the NDC’s representative for Buem, had asserted that Dr. Appiahene was an NPP activist and a previous supporter of TESCON, the party’s campus arm.
On March 20, 2023, President Akufo-Addo conducted the inauguration of Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng, Dr. Appiahene, and Hajia Tijani in the Jubilee House.
These people took over for Mrs. Hajia Sa-Adatu Maida, Mr. Ebenezer Aggrey-Fynn, and Mrs. Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo, who left their positions due to retirement.
The group joined the seven-member EC Board, which already consisted of Mrs. Jean Mensa as Chairperson, Mr. Samuel Tettey as Deputy Chairman for Operations, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare as Deputy Chairman for Corporate, and Ms. Adwoa Asuama Abrefa as Commissioner.