The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has called for the resignation of Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani from the board of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
Three new members of the Electoral Commission of Ghana was sworn in by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to TV3, they were sworn in during a brief ceremony held in the Jubilee House on Monday, March 20, 2023. Dr. Peter Appiahene, Madam Salima Ahmed Tijani, and Reverend Aka Ofori Boateng are the three newly appointed members of the EC.
Dr. Appiahene and Hajia Tijani were appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in March 2023, and their appointments have been met with some criticism from those who believe they have too close of ties to the ruling New Patriotic Party.
For example, Dr. Appiahene is said to have given money to TESCON in the Bono Region, which is the student branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Some people think that members of Hajia Tijani’s own family have close ties to the NPP, although the nature of her involvement with the party remains unclear.
Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe, a prominent member of CODEO, addressed in a press conference on April 5, 2023, asking for the two resignation, saying that it was necessary to protect the commission’s credibility.
“We are painfully aware that voluntary and constitutionally grounded revocation of these unfortunate and democratically problematic EC appointments by the President is extremely unlikely,” Dr Deegbe said.
“However, nothing stops the affected appointees, namely Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani from voluntarily and honourably resigning from the EC.
“This will be in the supreme interest of our country’s continued democratic progress, election peace and credibility and indeed overall national interest.” he added
