By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Outgoing Ashanti Director of the Electoral Commission, Benjamin Banor-Bioh, has admitted how challenging it is to successfully manage the region in terms of organizing and supervising public elections.
The situation, he attributes to the fact that the region is undoubtedly a political hotbed, with the most number of constituencies, while the two prominent political parties are always fighting each other for supremacy.
Addressing the media in Kumasi, Mr. Banor-Bioh mentioned level-headedness, fairness and transparency of staff of the Electoral Commission with the mutual trust and cooperation of the media as major determining factors for the success or failure of any Regional Director.
“This region, the NPP claims it’s their stronghold, the NDC is also strong here. These are the two main political parties that we have.”
“So if you want to be successful, you have to be balanced. There’s nothing that you do that each of the political parties would not talk about because Ashanti region is a decider. The most challenging situation in Ashanti region is for one to maintain level headedness to ensure a level playing field. Because you cannot take just anything for granted. So in all things you need to ensure that the right thing is done,” Mr. Banor-Bioh emphasised.
The media interaction was for him to formally announce his re-assignment from the Ashanti region and elevation to the position of the Director of Electoral Services at the Headquarters of the Electoral Commission, in Accra.
He used the opportunity to also introduce his successor, Francis Osei Mensah as the new Ashanti Regional Director of the EC.
Mr. Banor-Bioh is leaving his current position as the Ashanti Regional Director of the EC officially by the 30th of this month after five years and two months of unblemished duty tour of the region, having taken over from the outgoing Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr. Serebuor Quarcoo.
Mr. Banor-Bioh, while in the Ashanti region since 2019, successfully supervised major public elections, including the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary polls as well as some Parliamentary By-Elections.
It is the belief of many residents, political activists, and media practitioners in the region that his promotion to a higher position of responsibility is mainly attributable to his ability to deliver these key events without much controversy to the satisfaction of the Electoral Commission.
His elevation has also come at a crucial time. Ghana is already gearing up for her 9th Presidential and Parliamentary polls since the start of the 4th Republic and is also following in the footsteps of some of his predecessor Ashanti Regional Directors of the EC, including the current Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey.
The Media encounter in Kumasi was to enable Mr. Banor-Bioh to show appreciation to the media for their exceptional support and cooperation.
The Outgoing Regional Director, answering questions from journalists, recounted how challenging it is for anyone to head the EC in the Ashanti region, mainly because of the vibrant party and partisan political activism in the region, while the region remains the eye of the entire country in terms of party politics.
Mr. Banor-Bioh, while expressing faith in the ability of his successor to also live up to expectations in the run-up to the December 7 sections, advised him and other staff of the EC to always choose level headedness, fairness, commitment to successful elections, and cooperation with the media, which he described as indispensable in organising any public elections.
The incoming Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Francis Osei Mensah, assured of his resolve to even improve upon the cordial working relationship among the EC’s Regional Directorate and the media.
The New Regional Director of the EC, a retired FiFA Referee, Francis Osei Mensah, is currently the Western North Regional Director of the EC.
He is returning to the Ashanti region, where he served many years as a District Officer of the Commission.
He will officially assume his new role on Monday, the 1st of July and will face the challenging task of ensuring peaceful, credible, and transparent Presidential and Parliamentary elections on December 7, 2024, in the Ashanti region.
