Dep minister expresses disappointment in CODEO

The Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Osei Bonsu Amoah, has stated that he is disappointed in the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) for organising a press conference earlier in the week to refute accusations by the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) that it had peddled falsehood in its close-of-polls report on the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-elections.

According to the deputy minister, CODEO and the EC should have been able to reconcile their differences behind-the-scene before coming out publicly with any further communiques.

He particularly wished that CODEO had contacted the EC on the matter rather than organising the press conference to rebut.

The Coalition had reported a poor coordination of security at election centres, the presence of armed men at polling stations which it stressed was intimidating and some acts of violence, which the Coalition believed may have affected the elections.

But the Commission in a swift response pooh-poohed that and rather accused the Coalition of peddling falsehood to cause fear and panic, a move which saw CODEO make a comeback to clarify issues.

A Research Analyst at CODEO, Rhoda Afful, explained on TV3’s Saturday morning show, The Key Points, that her outfit had to make a comeback because they had to defend their integrity.

But Mr. Amoah said that rebuttal was not necessary, stating “I’m a bit disappointed in CODEO”.

He questioned what would happen if the EC also comes out again to respond to CODEO.

However, a former Member of Parliament for North Dayi Constituency, George Loh, disagrees with Mr. Amoah’s position.

He indicated that the EC should have been the first to contact CODEO when it issued the close-of-election report.

Private legal practitioner Bobby Banson, who also contributed to the discussion, observed the posture of the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission has not been the best so far, citing some instance in the referendum on the creation of new regions and its rebuttal to CODEO.