Charge EC for causing financial loss to the state - Group

A civil society group, Society for Youth Policy and Poverty Alleviation (SYPPA) is asking the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to bring the Electoral Commission (EC) to book for the financial losses it has caused the State in this year’s district assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference, the Executive Director of SYPPA, Mr. Jonathan Apangabuno Aviisah, noted that the EC’s negligence in the 2015 district assembly elections caused the State GH¢417 million.

Mr. Aviisah, who described the spending as a collateral damage argued that it could have been avoided if EC had been proactive.

Mr. Aviisah blamed EC for failing to understand the CI 72 it put before parliament for the conduct of the district assembly elections.

He pointed out that, the EC’s negligence caused the Supreme Court to annul the elections which was slated for March 20, 2015 and rescheduled to September 1.

He explained that the EC’s action was a heavy blow to the electioneering process of the country considering the waste of huge resources and the creation of vacuums in the administration of the Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs).

“The ineffectiveness of the EC did not only bring financial loss, it brought the running of the MMDAs to a grinding halt,” he stated.

The Ministry of Local Government in anticipation of the election slated for March and as required by the Constitution, dissolved the various assemblies.

“Following the suspension of the election, the assemblies were greatly impacted by their abilities to take major decisions because there was general assembly, executive committee and various committees prescribed by law and mandated to take those decisions.

This greatly affected the ability of the MMDAs to be responsive to local needs.”

He observed that since the inauguration of the new assemblies, the time-line involved as far as the preparation of the budget and the ability of the members to scrutinize the necessary documents and give approval has been affected.

He cited the inability for the new assemblies to look into their proposed fee fixing resolution, revised budget and the annual action plan as some lapses the inefficiencies of the EC have caused the MMDAs.

While calling on the EOCO to bring the EC to book for causing financial loss to the state, Mr. Jonathan Aviisah was also of the view that the EC and Ministry of Local Government initiate a process, which will lead to fixing a permanent date for the district level elections.

Story by: Michael Creg Afful

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