The Staff Union of the Electoral Commission (EC) has petitioned the Chairperson of the Commission, calling for a series of governance and administrative reforms, which it says are necessary to strengthen transparency, accountability and institutional efficiency.
The petition, authored by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission Staff Union, Richard Agorkor, outlines several recommendations that the union believes will help reinforce public confidence in the Commission and improve its internal governance.
According to Agorkor, the union wants the ongoing recruitment process for the position of Director of Finance suspended until the matter is considered and approved at a duly constituted meeting of the Commission.
It also called for the suspension of the proposed auction of the Commission’s vehicles and other operational assets until a comprehensive replacement plan and needs assessment have been approved by the Commission.
The Staff Union further urged the Chairperson to convene regular meetings of the Commission, in accordance with its constitutional and statutory governance framework, arguing that major policy and administrative decisions should be deliberated upon collectively.
Among its proposals, the union called for the restoration of collective decision-making in administrative, procurement, finance and human resource matters, saying such decisions should be considered and approved by the Commission as a corporate body.
The petition also recommends the decentralisation of administrative authority by empowering the Deputy Chairpersons and other authorised officers to discharge their lawful responsibilities to ensure continuity of operations and improve institutional efficiency.
The union further appealed for greater investment in the Commission’s internal capacity by prioritising the appointment and development of qualified permanent staff instead of relying extensively on external consultants to manage core operational departments.
It also called for efforts to build a healthier and more cordial working relationship between management and staff.
Additionally, the Staff Union, under the leadership of Richard Agorkor, urged the Commission to reaffirm its commitment to transparency, accountability, fairness, collective responsibility and good corporate governance, which it said are essential for maintaining public confidence in the Electoral Commission.
The recommendations follow concerns raised by the Staff Union over what it describes as governance and administrative challenges within the Commission.
Those concerns include issues relating to decision-making processes, recruitment, the management of operational assets and the administration of the institution.
The union stated that its petition is intended to encourage constructive engagement with management in the interest of preserving the Electoral Commission’s independence, credibility and institutional integrity.
When contacted by The Chronicle, Richard Agorkor confirmed that he signed the petition and that it had already been presented to management.
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