AEI commends EC, Police for swift action on alleged bribery during Ejisu by-election by Kingsley Nyarko

The African Electoral Institute (AEI) has commended the Electoral Commission and the Ghana Police Service for their quick action on the alleged bribery during the Ejisu by-election by the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Professor Kingsley Nyarko.

A statement signed by the Deputy Director of Communication for AEI, Nii Adjin Adjin-Tettey indicated that the move by the two bodies two is commendable adding that it will serve as a deterrent in the future.

“African Electoral Institute (AEI) commends the EC with regard to some of its officers during the recent Ejisu by-election by handing over the officers to the Ghana Police for the law to take its course.

“We pray that this action, by the EC, serves as a deterrent in the future.

“On the part of the Ghana Police, we equally commend them for not just dealing with the two officials for allegedly taking a bribe during the by-election but has further invited the MP involved to facilitate its investigations into the matter, since an  allegation of bribe has two sides,” Mr. Adjin-Tettey stated.

Below is the full statement 

PRESS RELEASE
BY AFRICAN ELECTORAL INSTITUTE (AEI)
TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES

DATE: 6TH MAY, 2024

THE AFRICAN ELECTORAL INSTITUTE (AEI) COMMENDS THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF GHANA (EC) AND THE GHANA POLICE FOR THE PROMPT POSITIVE ACTION ON THE ALLEGED BRIBERY OF EC OFFICIALS DURING THE EJISU BY-ELECTION ON THE 30TH OF APRIL, 2024 BY THE KWADASO MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT( MP),  PROF.. KINSLEY NYARKO

The African Electoral Institute( AEI) commends the EC with regard to some of its officers during the recent Ejisu by-election by handing over the officers to the Ghana Police for the law to take its course.

We pray that this action, by the EC, serves as a deterrent in the future.

On the part of the Ghana Police, we equally commend them for not just dealing with the two officials for allegedly taking a bribe during the by-election but has further invited the MP involved to facilitate its investigations into the matter, since an  allegation of bribe has two sides.

This is an election year, and the African Electoral Institute (AEI) urges the Ghana Police to expedite its investigation and all necessary legal processes and consequences to bring finality on the matter.

The African Electoral Institute ( AEI)  has watched the viral footage of the alleged bribery and has judiciously followed almost all the narratives on this matter, and we are happy the law is taking its course.

In order not to prejudice the matter, the African Electoral Institute ( AEI) refrains from drawing conclusions on the matter.

However, we are of the view that any form of electoral malpractice including monetization, irrespective of purported good intention, is a robbery of the people’s will and will affect the results of any election and consequently the spirit of a true democracy.

Building a resilient  Electoral System for  NATIONAL SECURITY should be the continuous task of the  Electoral Commission.

The Democratic credentials of Ghana have come far and rooted, and no stone should be left unturned to maintain and improve same.

African Electoral Institute (AEI)  encourages every Ghanaian to do his or her part by knowing the dos and don’ts of elections.

The EC must make it a point, during training and deployment of its field and back room personnel, to spell out clearly  the  dos and don’ts per its by-laws on elections and the laws of the country on elections.

In conclusion, the AfricanElectoral Institute(AEI) urges every Ghanaian,  and all state agencies tasked with the responsibilities of securing Ghana’s Electoral fortunes to be proactive at all times to protect and enforce  the laws of The Republic of Ghana.

SIGNED: NII ADJIN ADJIN-TETTEY (Deputy Director of Communications and External Relations)

0540904550

African Electoral Institute ( AEI) is a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) founded to deliver sustainable electoral solutions to Emerging and Developed Democracies to strengthen, augment, and build electoral stakeholders capacity and participation on electoral issues through electoral education on voter’s rights and freedom, electoral research, election monitoring, election observation, election results collation, election security awareness and training of polling agents and elections directors underscoring the fact that ‘’elections are won at the polling stations’’ and the participation of all identifiable electoral stakeholders in an electoral process such as Political Parties, Governmental Institutions, underpinning transparency and accountability for a free, fair, and credible elections in Africa and the wider world.

Motto: “Integrity of Choice”

Source: Today.com.gh