Afari-Gyan receives highest state award

For over two decades, he was vilified and praised. He was loved and loathed. And was despised and revered by the same tongues on different occasions depending on whether or not the pendulum of electoral victory swung in their favour.

On the turbulent waters of Ghana’s democracy, which sometimes threatened his life, however, he did not give  up. He remained resolute, fought what could be likened to the biblical “good fight” and as far as the Republic of Ghana is concerned, he received the “crown of glory” on Republic Day 2015.

He is Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the immediate past Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana. Today he received the highest state award, Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana, from President John Dramani Mahama at the Flagstaff House.

The President also honoured over 40 volunteers who helped to save lives in the three West African countries plagued by Ebola.

Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan was in charge of the EC from 1993 to June 2015, after having served as the Deputy Chairman in charge of operations at the Interim National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1992.

He is therefore the first substantive EC chairman. He has mainly been involved in or chaired and supervised all elections since Ghana returned to Multi-party democracy in the Fourth Republic – 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Delivering his 2015 State of the Nation Address in Parliament, President John Mahama acknowledged the critical role Dr Afari-Gyan played over the past 23 years in shaping Ghana’s democracy.

“Let me, on behalf of the people of Ghana, express our respect for the dedication to work shown by Dr. Afari-Gyan – an illustrious son of Ghana; the nation will miss you for the dedicated meritorious service,” President Mahama said.

Political Scientist Dr Kwesi Jonah has also described Dr. Afari-Gyan as distinguished personality and one of Africa’s most respected electoral commissioners.

“Ghana will miss him when he retires in June. Believe me or not, when Dr. Afari-Gyan retires in June, I am sure a lot of Ghanaians will miss him. He has maintained the EC. The Ghana EC has a very good reputation on the African continent and the whole world for so many years,” Dr. Jonah stated.

In 1998, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan became the Executive Secretary of the Association of African Election Authorities. He was also member of a committee of experts to advice Nigeria on elections

Dr. Afari-Gyan worked as a lecturer and professor in political science at the University of Ghana. He has also lectured in the United States and Nigeria. He was a member of the Committee of Experts that drafted the Fourth Republican Constitution for Ghana.

In 2012, one of Ghana’s leading charismatic churches, The Royal House Chapel, conferred on Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan the title: Apostle of Integrity, in recognition of his dedicated service to Ghana.

Conferring the title on him, the Apostle General of the church, Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah, said Dr. Afari-Gyan’s dedication to doing what is right had preserved the peace of the country.

The title came with a $5,000 prize and a plaque with gold-plated background.

The EC Chairman, when he retired, would also receive $1,000 every year at Easter from the Church till his death.

Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah said it was regrettable that despite all the hard work the Commission Chairman was doing for the nation, he was hardly recognized.

“Two days to elections everybody will be sitting on thorns. People are fasting, praying and crying, but as soon as the elections are over and there is peace everybody forgets this man,” Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah said.

“What I admire about this man is that when there is political tension he doesn’t talk, he keeps quiet and when he speaks there is peace,” he observed.

In his response, the Afari-Gyan amidst “allegations, accusations, insults and sometimes threats,” the commission and its staff remained resolute in the discharge of their duties.

“Your own conscience is a worthy judge but God is the ultimate judge,” he said.

When the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria, Prof. Attahiru Mahamadu Jega, was commended for successfully supervising the 2015 historic elections in Nigeria, he in turn showered praises on Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan. Prof. Jega said the Commission had over the years drawn a lot of inspiration from Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.

This, according to him, had contributed partly to the successful elections, which were held in the country in March 2015.

In his view, Dr. Afari-Gyan is “a shining example for the leadership of election management bodies in Africa. We have been inspired by the work of Dr. Afari-Gyan. We have benefited tremendously from his experience, wisdom and advice,” he said.

“I have nothing but commendation for the Ghanaian Electoral Commission and in particular for the leadership of Dr. Afari Gyan,” he told Adom FM in an interview shortly after the Nigeria’s election.

Afari-Gyan leaving the Supreme Court during the election petition hearing

Dr. Afari-Gyan’s greatest challenge as head of the EC came after the 2012 elections when the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) went to the Supreme Court to challenge the results of the Presidential election. The Supreme Court upheld the results declared by the Electoral Commission but suggested some reforms.

His low point was however the failure by the EC to adhere to constitutional procedure which resulted in the postponement of the 2015 District Assembly Elections.

Cartoon by The Black Narrator

Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan has been replaced by the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education, Mrs. Charlotte Osei. She was sworn in yesterday. She has promised she would not disappoint Ghanaians.

For many Ghanaians, however, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan’s achievement remains a formidable benchmark against which any successor to the EC throne will be measured.