Hamza Sayibu Suhuyini is a member of NDC's communications team

A private legal practitioner and a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communications team, Hamza Sayibu Suhuyini, has reiterated the party’s longstanding call for a comprehensive reset of the Electoral Commission (EC), stressing the need to restore the kind of credibility and impartiality once associated with former EC boss Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.

Speaking on TV3’s ‘New Day’ show on Monday, July 7, Suhuyini welcomed signs that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is beginning to recognise the same flaws in the EC that the NDC flagged years ago.

“All what I’m saying is that today I’m excited because gradually the New Patriotic Party is beginning to appreciate and see the things we experienced since the appointment as Electoral Commissioners.”

According to him, this could mark the beginning of a much-needed consensus on electoral reforms.

“Maybe we are moving toward that consensus where all of us would agree that, in the interest of our democracy, there is the need to reset the Electoral Commission,” he said.

He argued that the current commissioners must be removed from office, asserting that this is one of the surest ways to protect Ghana’s democratic stability.

He acknowledged concerns that, now that the NDC is in power, such a move could be seen as politically motivated. However, he was quick to stress that the party’s position has remained consistent.

“These were concerns we raised in opposition. These are concerns that the NPP suddenly is coming to accept, that indeed these guys can be influenced because we are saying that they are largely influenced in this current U-turn because of what our chairman said.”

He attributed the EC’s recent decisions to political pressure, saying if its leadership can be swayed so easily, they are unfit to oversee elections.

“Then clearly we should not have people like that manning our Electoral Commission as a country.”

Suhuyini called for a return to electoral leadership that embodies the standards set by Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, citing him as a benchmark for electoral integrity.

“We all saw how Dr Afari-Gyan discharged himself in that position. We need that semblance of Afari-Gyan, that credibility, that integrity to man that office.”

AS/MA

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