“It is great to have the NDC back to IPAC” – Jean Mensa

The National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) reappearance on the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) has proven to be very beneficial, according to Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, as the party has contributed significantly to the enhancement of Ghana’s electoral system.

Since March 2020, the NDC has abstained from IPAC events in response to concerns expressed by the party on the Electoral Commission’s stance.

Madam Mensa claims that their return has been extremely successful.

“I think it is great to have the NDC back,” she remarked in an interview with JoyNews on June 26. As you have stated, they have been absent from IPAC for a considerable amount of time. We are cognizant of the fact that they are significant players in our body politics.

“They are the main opposition and they constitute a formidable force. It is a great benefit to all of us that they have returned to IPAC.”

She explained that since the party’s return, they have offered feedback that the EC has adopted to help run the just-ended registration exercise.

“The discussions have been going on very well. They have been very constructive. It has been valuable feedback that has come from the NDC as well as some of the other parties… so for the just-ended registration exercise there was valuable feedback that the NDC brought on board and we have considered quite a number of ideas and the suggestions and we have taken them on board so we continue to engage in a constructive way,” she added.

The EC sent an invitation to NDC to attend an IPAC meeting, which NDC turned down on April 21, 2021.

In a statement, the party said that it will not be attending the meeting to assess the 2020 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections because of what it considers to be prejudice, dishonesty, and deceit on the part of EC Chair Jean Mensa during the election campaign.

The IPAC meeting was slated for April 21, 2021, on a Wednesday.

The NDC declared that they still think the EC manipulated the election, despite the Supreme Court rejecting their election appeal.

The NDC openly pledged to rejoin IPAC in December 2023 following several calls.

Since January 22 until now, the NDC has attended IPAC sessions in accordance with this pledge.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com