Ghana’s key institutions becoming those of dubious integrity –Dr. Afari-Gyan

During the Constitution Day Public Lecture on Monday, January 8, 2024, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the former Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) in Ghana, expressed concerns about the declining trustworthiness of the country’s important institutions. Specifically, he addressed the issue of pervasive corruption in the public sector and public life, which has led to economic challenges for the nation.

Dr. Afari-Gyan highlighted that some institutions, which are crucial for Ghana’s functioning, are losing their integrity. This has become evident when candidates who lose elections allege manipulation and refuse to accept the results. This trend is eroding faith in democratic principles and causing a lack of predictability in social life, which discourages proper behavior.

He emphasized the importance of instilling democratic values widely in society and promoting predictability in social life to encourage appropriate conduct. Dr. Afari-Gyan called for a collective effort to address these issues and stressed the crucial role that key institutions play in upholding the integrity of the democratic process and fostering a transparent and accountable society.

While he acknowledged the calls for a constitutional review as a solution to this deterioration, he cautioned against unnecessary tampering with the constitution.