By GhanaNewsPage 
Former President John Dramani Mahama has cast doubts on the Electoral Commission’s commitment to its motto of “transparency, fairness, and integrity,” given its statements, actions, and “suspicious maneuvering” during the recent balloting process.
According to him, instead of upholding its values, the Electoral Commission prefers “secrecy over transparency.”
Speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Christian Faith Church International in Sekondi, in the Western Region, Mr. Mahama stated that it is not just the NDC that is “appalled” by the Commission’s refusal to allow for an audit of the electoral register, something that has been done in the past to ensure the credibility and confidence of all stakeholders in the electoral process.
“Civil society organizations, diplomats, and the international community are all expressing disappointment at this refusal to be accountable to the stakeholders.”
He mentioned that the current mood in the country is one crying for peace, but insisted that there must also be justice.
He emphasized the need for all to ensure that the electoral process has the confidence of all stakeholders in order to have successful and peaceful elections.
“And that is what the NDC is committed to doing,” he stated.
Despite his reservations about the conduct of the Electoral Commission, he expressed confidence that the upcoming IPAC meeting would present an opportunity for all issues surrounding the voter’s register to be properly addressed.
“My understanding is that there is an IPAC meeting on 1st October, and it is my hope that the meeting will find a solution to the current impasse we face over the electoral register.”
He called on the Electoral Commission to reflect on its duties and live up to its mandate so that “we can have successful elections in this country.”
It is also his prayer that the church, “our religious bodies and all, will not just observe happenings passively but will actively speak up in order to protect the democracy that we have worked so hard to achieve.”
“In these difficult times, we cannot afford to turn against one another. We need to be united and express compassion to our fellow Ghanaians. This is the time for fellow feeling…”