NDC returns to IPAC

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has returned to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), an advisory body made up of political parties that give non-binding advice to the Electoral Commission (EC).

A statement issued and copied the Ghanaian Times by Fifi Fiave Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC on Sunday, said the party was optimistic about a revitalised IPAC.

“The NDC is optimistic about the revitalisation of the IPAC, drawing inspiration from the robustConsensus Building Platform established during the tenures of Dr Kwadwo Afari Djan and Charlotte Osei asChairpersons of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.”

The statement said the party anticipates collaborative endeavors that would strengthen Ghana’s electoral system, benefiting not only individual political parties but also upholding the democratic values of the nation.

It is recalled that on December 14, 2023, the NDC announced its decision to return to IPAC at a stakeholders meeting on inter-party dialogue organised by the National Peace Council, at Peduase in the Eastern Region.

Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said the NDC’s return was based on IPAC maintaining its consensus, whereby decisions would be taken in consideration of all parties in the interest of the country.

“We must work to make sure that IPAC returns to its consensus building ways.

The National Peace Council must ensure that the issues that were blocking our return will be dealt with before the next IPAC meeting,” he said.

Earlier in the programme, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Adukwei Mensa, made an appeal to the NDC to rejoin IPAC, stating that the party’s contribution was invaluable to the democratic process of the country.

“I would like to use this opportunity to invite the leadership of the National Democratic Congress to our IPAC meetings. We do realise that since 2021, NDC has not been present at our IPAC meetings.

We miss them, we miss their fire. I extend an olive branch and in the interest of peace of our country. We invite them to IPAC,” she said.

Explaining some of the grievances that led to the boycott, Mr Nketiah accused the EC of changing the IPAC from its consensus building nature to a form of imposition in which the commission’s views and decisions were presented as those taken in consultation with IPAC.

According to him, in such a situation, the NDC had no choice but to disassociate itself from IPAC when its views and concerns were being disregarded.

The NDC National Chairman also accused the Jean Mensa-led EC of taking a posture of not listening to IPAC under the guise of protecting its independence.

He said those who established IPAC knew that the EC was independent but saw it wise to form such an advisory body to enable political parties, civil society organisations to have a stake in the election administration process of the country.

“It is interesting to note that in the past, almost 90 per cent of all electoral reforms came out of suggestions brought out by civil societies and political parties at IPAC,” he said.

The NDC in April, 2021, boycotted IPAC, which is an advisory body made up of political parties that gives non-binding advice to the EC.

The party declined an invitation by the EC to attend an IPAC meeting to review the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.

BY MALIK SULLEMANA