{"id":128791,"date":"2015-06-27T13:42:04","date_gmt":"2015-06-27T13:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=128791"},"modified":"2015-06-27T13:42:04","modified_gmt":"2015-06-27T13:42:04","slug":"ec-appointment-mahama-hasnt-broken-the-law-kwesi-pratt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/06\/ec-appointment-mahama-hasnt-broken-the-law-kwesi-pratt\/","title":{"rendered":"EC appointment: Mahama hasn’t broken the law \u2013 Kwesi Pratt"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt has waded into the raging debate\u00a0over the appointment of the new Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, while the Supreme Court \u00a0rules on the appointment process.<\/p>\n

President John Dramani Mahama in accordance with Article 70(2) of the 1992 \u00a0Constitution, appointed Mrs. Charlotte Osei<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0as the new Chairperson on Friday.<\/p>\n

\"ec\"<\/a>
Chalotte Osei<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[contextly_sidebar id=”hZlmKI2SOMn2fZQHDBprmRiH6eyERRFP”]The appointment has however been met with mixed reactions, while others have raised questios about her capacity to do the job.<\/p>\n

A renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare has for instance in an interview with the Ghanaian Times, challenged the appointment, arguing that the process leading to her selection \u201clacked transparency and verifiability.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have said before that prudence requires transparency and verifiability in the appointment of the EC members, especially the Chair\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n

The lawyer further argued that the process clearly contravened Article 70(2) of the 1992 constitution, adding that in respect of his appointment under the law the President should have sought the advice of the Council of State.<\/p>\n

Pratt disagrees.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking on Radio Gold on Saturday, he said: \u201cI am very surprised that these suggestions are being put by persons who describe themselves as lawyers… How somebody can think that this is the violation of the constitution is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

He questioned the basis for the claims that the President failed to act on the advice of the Council of State, saying; “Where in this appointment , or what in this appointment suggest that the President did not act on advice of the President of State. I think there is a general consensus that the President must act on the advice of the State and he has done that so where is the issue.”<\/p>\n

He pointed out that the President cannot \u00a0even be sued over her appointment even if he acted against the laws.<\/p>\n

“Indeed if he acted against the laws, he suffers impeachment. He is not dragged to court to face criminal charges.”<\/p>\n

Fix \u2018Afari Gyan\u2019s mess\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

On their part, the New Patriotic Party called on the<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>EC Chairperson \u00a0to address the unresolved challenges left by her predecessor, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope she will contribute immensely to the development of our democratic dispensation and it\u2019s growth, by helping to resolve the many challenges she is inheriting from Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, her predecessor,\u201d the NPP said in a statement signed by its chairman, Paul Afoko.<\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

By: Marian Efe Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
\nFollow @EfeAnsah<\/a>
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