Return to IPAC – Afari Gyan urges NDC

Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, former Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), has encouraged members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to end their boycott of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).

After the 2020 general elections, the largest opposition party resigned from IPAC, alleging the EC leadership of bias in favor of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The NDC accused the EC of allowing the 2020 general elections to be rigged.

Dr. Afari Gyan, speaking at the 3rd Annual Conference of the NDC Lawyers Association in Akosombo, Eastern Region, stressed the opportunity that IPAC provides to all political parties.

“The IPAC makes it possible for political parties to know and make inputs to the important thing the Electoral Commission is doing at any point in time. It makes it possible to discuss the concerns of the parties and makes it possible to contribute to the making of subsidiary legislation, and I will appeal to the NDC to go back.”

“Don’t worry if your ideas are not adopted, please go there and make your ideas felt. Indeed, in some cases, IPAC is the forum for stakeholder dialogue towards achieving common ownership of the electoral system. Under Ghana’s electoral system, there are many opportunities for political parties to participate in electoral processes that promote free and fair elections,” Dr Afari Gyan advised.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has declined to attend an IPAC meeting on April 21, 2021.

The gathering was intended to provide a chance for the major political parties to examine the general elections scheduled for December 7, 2020.

“The National Democratic Congress (NDC), declined an invitation by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to attend an IPAC meeting to review the 2020 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections which was scheduled for Wednesday 21st April 2021.

“The party took this decision because of the lack of candor, odious duplicity, and open bias that were displayed by the Jean Mensah-led Electoral Commission in favor of the New Patriotic Party in the conduct of the 2020 general elections,” the NDC said in a statement.

The NDC explained the move in a statement, claiming it was to protest the Electoral Commission’s alleged bias during the polls.

“It is the considered view of the NDC, that the current leadership of the Electoral Commission who supervised the manipulation of the 2020 general elections and the stolen verdict that resulted from same, lack the integrity, credibility and impartiality to lead any such discussions or review of the very elections they rigged,” it said.