EC in 'sankofa' mode, dumps Charlotte Osei's controversial logo

The Electoral Commission has dumped the controversial multi-coloured logo championed by its immediate past chairperson, Mrs Charlotte Osei.

In a memo dated December 4, 2018 and signed by chairperson, Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, the commission explained that with effect from "today... the original logo..which bears the Coat of Arms and has a ballot box showing the hand casting it's vote has been restored."

The memo, which had the subject, "Restoration of Original Logo of the Electoral Commission," a copy of which has been seen by Graphic Online read: "The core values of the Electoral Commission, namely integrity, Fairness and Accountability have from today also been restored." 

"All communications from the Electoral Commission must from today, be made on the letterhead bearing the original logo of the Commission as appears on the face of this letterhead. Reams of letterheads are to be picked up from the stores of the Commission," it said.

"Kindly ensure that the most recent logo is removed from the buildings and properties of the Commission. This will subsequently be replaced."

"Let the bells of Accountability, Fairness and Integrity ring throughout the Commision. May God bless us all. Thank you," it concluded.

The memo was copied to all commissioners, Head Office Directors, Regional Directors, Deputy Regional Directors, District Electoral Officers and Sectional Heads.

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Change of logo

The Electoral Commission under Charlotte Osei's leadership changed its logo in April 2016 and explained the move was part of plans to re-brand the commission.

The new logo had a dark-blue background with round coloured circles in shades of green, yellow, white, and red.

The introduction of the new logo received varied public reaction with some describing it as "childish" and called on the EC to change it.

Ms Kinna Likimani, a blogger and a member of Ghana Decides, an election reporting project that provides the platform for citizen journalists to publish their reports on elections in Ghana at the time for instance, argued that, "We have things to put in the logo that evokes Ghana and evokes voting. This does not do it. It looks like some children are holding up some balls, ready to go and play basketball. That is very nice for an organization that runs children programmes and not for the EC".

Defending the move, Mrs Charlotte Osei on her part explained that it removed the Coat of Arms from its new logo because it [EC] did not represent the authority of the state.

“We also removed the ballot box because our work is beyond just the ballot box,” Mrs Charlotte Osei said at the launch of its five-year strategic plan.

She insisted that the new logo represented a unified common purpose and vision and demonstrates the EC’s independence as an institution.

“This is our logo, we picked it, we like it and it makes us happy,” Mrs Osei noted.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh 

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