We are interested in how elections are won, not who wins - EC Deputy Chair

Newly appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, has declared that the Commission must be judged by the credibility of its electoral processes rather than the political parties or candidates that emerge victorious.

He insists the ultimate loyalty of the electoral management body must be to Ghanaians, stressing that public confidence cannot be demanded merely because the Commission is a constitutional institution.

"We don't have an interest of who wins an election in this country. But our interest is how the elections are won," he said in an interview with Onua TV's Ekow JB on Onua Maakye, Tuesday, October 13.

According to him, the power to determine who governs Ghana belongs to voters, while the Commission's responsibility is to accurately account for their choices.

"Our duty is to aggregate the votes that the people have given, the verdict of the people, and account to the people," he stated.

Dr Asamoah, who was sworn into office on October 12 alongside Emelia Afi Agbenyo, also rejected the suggestion that loyalty to an institution should take precedence over the wider national interest.

"There is nothing like institutional loyalty. There is always what we call national loyalty," he maintained.

He argued that restoring and sustaining confidence in the EC would depend on transparency, meaningful stakeholder participation and openness throughout the electoral process.

"Trust is not inherited, okay? Trust is earned," he said.

The Deputy Chairperson further stressed that credible election results cannot be separated from the processes that produce them.

He wants the Commission to provide information early enough for political parties and other stakeholders to understand and anticipate each stage of an election.

"An election cannot be deemed to be credible if the processes leading to the preparation of the election is not predictable," he argued.

Dr Asamoah says his priority is to help position the Commission to earn the confidence of political parties, the Judiciary and other electoral stakeholders.

His remarks signal an emphasis on public accountability and procedural transparency as he assumes responsibility at the Commission.