{"id":207834,"date":"2016-04-20T06:00:27","date_gmt":"2016-04-20T06:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=207834"},"modified":"2016-04-20T06:00:27","modified_gmt":"2016-04-20T06:00:27","slug":"afanyi-dadzie-writes-new-logo-new-register-charlotte-oseis-flop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/04\/afanyi-dadzie-writes-new-logo-new-register-charlotte-oseis-flop\/","title":{"rendered":"Afanyi Dadzie writes: New logo or new register; Charlotte Osei\u2019s flop"},"content":{"rendered":"
I have restrained myself from being one of the critics of the President\u2019s choice of Madam Charlotte Osei as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.<\/p>\n
My reason is simple. I do not want to swim in the same river with those who believe that it was inappropriate for a woman to be handed that task. I am forward-thinking and so I am convinced that competence, integrity, knowledge, and even courage, cuts across gender.<\/p>\n
And so if I would have critiqued a man\u2019s performance in charge of this sensitive institution, then I will certainly not hesitate to do same when a woman is in charge.<\/p>\n
‘Giving a\u00a0dog a bad name’<\/strong><\/p>\n But I also want to believe that some chauvinists may be unduly exerting pressure on Ghana\u2019s first female head of the EC. It\u2019s perhaps just a case of giving the dog a bad name to hang it.<\/p>\n Without going on that trajectory nonetheless, it must be candidly stated that, some of the events that have characterized Charlotte Osei\u2019s 10-months reign are disquieting.<\/p>\n And some of these events have genuinely made me question her leadership credentials and what the rippling effects of her actions or inaction could be for this nation, bearing in mind the delicacy of the institution she heads.<\/p>\n What is my grumble about Charlotte Osei? <\/strong><\/p>\n One of the first hurdles she is even yet to cross is the most critical issue of a credible register for the first major election she would be overseeing come November 7, 2016.<\/p>\n Without going into the technicalities or the merits of the proposal for a new voters\u2019 register, advocates for the new electoral roll have put forward their arguments be they valid or not.<\/p>\n Those opposed to it have equally done same; and attempts have been made by the EC to respond to the issues and address them.<\/p>\n A supposed neutral committee has recommended cleaning of the register rather than a compilation of a new one.<\/p>\n Convincing assurance<\/strong><\/p>\n Regardless of this, the cacophony of noises over the register still remains. I believe that at this point, all that the commission must do; is to give a convincing assurance that there is no cause for alarm and that the elections would be credible with or without a new register –\u00a0which she has tried, but not convincing enough.<\/p>\n ‘Laughable’ logo<\/strong><\/p>\n I find it quite inconceivable however, that just when the huge dust over the register debate is yet to settle, and after the brouhaha that equally greeted the Commission\u2019s botched National Election Steering Committee, a rather bizarre decision could be taken to change the EC\u2019s logo.<\/p>\n