Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah
The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, says he is pleased with the dismissal of removal petitions against the Special Prosecutor and officials of the Electoral Commission (EC), describing the outcome as a positive sign for Ghana’s democracy.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Braimah said the decision demonstrates the strength and independence of Ghana’s institutions.
“I think in a democracy, when you find that institutions are independent and strong, I think that is really helpful,” he said.
His comments follow the Chief Justice’s decision to dismiss petitions seeking the removal of the Special Prosecutor and EC officials, allowing them to remain in office.
Mr Braimah reflected on the political tensions that have surrounded the Electoral Commission in recent years. He noted that during the period when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was in opposition, the Commission faced heavy criticism.
“We’ve come from a period when, right in the days of the NDC in opposition, the commentary and so on and so forth was absolutely not too good for the Electoral Commission,” he said.
He added that at one point, many EC decisions appeared to align with the position of the then-governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“We got to a point where almost every decision of the EC was sort of always in line with what the NPP says their position is,” he stated.
“It got to a point where it was almost like, okay, the EC says this, the NPP says we agree. The NPP says this, and it appears to be the same position as the EC.”
Read also: Petitions to remove EC, OSP leadership fail after CJ finds no prima facie case.
According to him, this generated strong concerns from the NDC, although he acknowledged that such reactions are common in partisan politics.
“At all times, the opposition would always be against the EC or speak against the EC’s decision, and we are beginning to see that now,” he said.
Mr Braimah argued that the real test of institutional independence comes when due process does not favour the party in power.
“If we’ve gone through all this, and then the party comes to power, and the leadership of the party says these people must go, and then a process is rolled out, in the end, the Chief Justice says, well, nothing has been established, and the people stay in power,” he explained.
He pointed out that the Chief Justice was appointed under the same government, making the ruling even more significant in his view.
“We’re also talking about a Chief Justice who was recently appointed under the same government. For me, it is fulfilling that we have institutions that appear to be independent, strong.”
He also cited a recent Supreme Court ruling on the Kpandai High Court decision as another example of institutions working in accordance with the law rather than political pressure.
“It is not about the wishes of the government in power. It is about what the law says. And it’s about the interpretation of the adjudicating bodies,” he said.
Mr Braimah maintained that such developments strengthen Ghana’s democratic system.
“That, for me, is what would make our democracy strong and resilient. And that’s why I’m happy about this decision.”
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
