Two leading governance think-tanks in Ghana have lauded the Supreme Court (SC) over its ruling ordering the Electoral Commission (EC) to rid the electoral roll of names of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registrants.

In a statement copied Myjoyonline, the two bodies; Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) said the SC’s directive has initiated the kick-off for the “much-awaited process of improving the integrity of the BVR.”

According to them, “It is imperative that further improvement in the electoral process is not stalled by the lack of adequate information on all aspects of the process” considering the nation has barely five months to the elections.

They berated the EC for the low public confidence it is suffering in the country, saying, its attitudes are to be blamed for that.  

“So far, the EC has not communicated swiftly and proactively with the public on the status of implementation of the reforms and recommendations,” they claimed.

This, they believe has “Left the larger Ghanaian public uninformed, and therefore open to rumours, allegations, and suspicions.

They cautioned the Commission to desist from abusing its independence as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

“We are therefore calling on the EC to act expeditiously to account to the people of Ghana on the implementation of the expected reforms and the extent to which those measures have strengthened the institution for the 2016 elections.

Read full statement below: