[ 2017-05-03 ]

EC boss fit for Chatham prize - CenProG
The Centre for Progressive Governance (CenProG)
has urged the Royal Institute of International
Affairs to disregard claims by pressure group
Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) that
the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC),
Charlotte Osei, does not deserve to be nominated
for the 2017 Chatham House Prize.

AFAG in a letter to the Institute had argued Mrs
Osei did not deserve the award because the
electoral processes leading to the 2016 general
elections were fraught with a series of court
cases, anxiety, and demonstrations which nearly
plunged the country into chaos.

AFAG said the successful outcome of the 2016
presidential and parliamentary elections was
largely the contribution of peace-loving Ghanaians
and must not be credited to the chair of the
commission for which reason she was nominated for
the award.

But CenProG, in a counter letter, has appealed to
the Royal Institute to disregard AFAG’s letter
seeking to dent the credibility of Mrs Osei.

According to CenProG, AFAG is a surrogate of the
government and has been noted for their
“blinkered, blinded and wholly partisan nature
which has put them on a warpath with the
commission since the group came into existence”,
adding: “Consistently, the group has attacked
the EC and tried [on several occasions] to set
right-thinking Ghanaians against the commission,
but to no avail.”

According to CenProG, Mrs Osei’s short stay as
the EC Chair has been “impressive” and has set
Ghana as a beacon of democracy in Africa and the
world. They added that despite the pressure on
her, Mrs Osei did her work diligently, devoid of
fear or favour for any of the political groupings
in the country during the 2016 polls and,
therefore, deemed her worthy of the Chatham House
Prize.

Below is the full letter:

Centre for Progressive Governance (CenProG)

26/04/16

Dear Sir,

RE: MRS CHARLOTTE OSEI, GHANA’S ELECTORAL
COMMISSIONER UNFIT FOR CHATHAM HOUSE PRICE

The Centre for Progressive Governance (CENPROG),
Ghana, has observed with utter dismay a petition
sent to your noble institution by the group,
Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), known
to be a surrogate of the ruling party, New
Patriotic Party (NPP), to seek to dent the
credibility of the Chairperson of Ghana’s
Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Charlotte Osei and
hence unworthy of the being shortlisted for the
prestigious award.

AFAG has been noted for their blinkered, blinded
and wholly partisan nature which has put them on a
warpath with the commission since the group came
into existence. Consistently, the group has
attacked the EC and tried severally to set right
thinking Ghanaians against the commission but to
no avail. It is a documented fact that AFAG
continuously attacked Dr Afari Gyan when he was
chairman of the EC and at various point of his
sterling career, they either demonstrated against
his stewardship or called for his resignation.
Refer to the links below:
(http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201309/112927.php,
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/AFAG-Threatens-EC-Ghana
Peace-Ahead-Of-Elections-249105)

CenProG is therefore not surprised at the posture
of AFAG in relation to the current Chairperson of
the EC because immediately after her appointment,
leading members of AFAG were all over the Ghanaian
media landscape claiming her appointment was
questionable. Many other frivolous claims were
made against Mrs Charlotte Osei by AFAG. (See
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/EC-boss-proven-she
NDC sweetheart-AFAG-416923)

CenProG having availed your august institution to
the facts, will like to respectfully request that
you disregard the claims being made by AFAG
against the person of Mrs Charlotte Osei, who
short but impressive stay as the Chairperson of EC
has set Ghana as a beacon of democracy in Africa
and the world. It is also worthy of note that with
all the pressure and character assassination by
groups such as AFAG, the EC Chairperson did her
work diligently and devoid of fear or favour for
any of the political groupings in Ghana.

CenProG therefore commends the contribution of Mrs
Charlotte Osei to Ghana’s democracy and deem her
worthy of this prestigious award by Chatham House.
In a country where it is uncommon for women to
achieve such height, we find it refreshing that
the EC chairperson continues to excel in her new
role and serves as a role model to young girls
across the country. An award for Mrs Charlotte
Osei will not be for just her role in our
democratic process but will be a plus for women
empowerment in Ghana.

We humbly recommend that you ignore the frivolous
and vexatious petition by AFAG whose interest is
not that of Ghanaians but of a political party. It
is the wish of Ghanaians that officers who excel
are awarded so that many others will take a cue
and hold themselves as such. Mrs Charlotte Osei is
a shining example and therefore worthy of the
commendations she rightly deserves.

Yours faithfully,

SAWADOGO MAHMOUD (EXECUTIVE SECRETARY)

Source - classfmonline.com

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