The former Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, has called on members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reconsider their withdrawal from the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).

The NDC opted out of IPAC following allegations of EC bias in favor of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) after the 2020 general elections, accusing the EC of election manipulation.

Dr. Afari Gyan highlighted the value of IPAC as a platform for political parties to influence EC decisions and contribute to subsidiary legislation during his address at the 3rd Annual Conference of the NDC Lawyers Association in Akosombo.

He encouraged the NDC to rejoin IPAC, emphasizing the importance of participating in electoral processes that promote free and fair elections within Ghana's electoral system.

The NDC declined an invitation to an IPAC meeting scheduled for April 21, 2021, which aimed to review the December 7, 2020, general elections.

“The National Democratic Congress (NDC), declined an invitation by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to attend an IPAC meeting to review the 2020 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections which was scheduled for Wednesday 21st April 2021. The party took this decision because of the lack of candour, odious duplicity, and open bias that was displayed by the Jean Mensah-led Electoral Commission in favour of the New Patriotic Party in the conduct of the 2020 general elections,” the NDC said in a statement.

The party cited concerns about the EC's alleged bias in favor of the NPP during the elections and expressed doubts about the impartiality of the EC's leadership in facilitating discussions on the contested elections.

“It is the considered view of the NDC, that the current leadership of the Electoral Commission who supervised the manipulation of the 2020 general elections and the stolen verdict that resulted from same, lack the integrity, credibility and impartiality to lead any such discussions or review of the very elections they rigged,” it said.