Kwadwo Afari-Gyan
Encyclopedia
Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan is the chair of the Electoral Commission of Ghana
. He is a Ghanaian academic
and political scientist
.
in the Brong-Ahafo Region
of Ghana
. He graduated from the University of Ghana
in 1967 with a BA
degree in philosophy
. He went on to attain a MA
degree in African politics in 1969 from the same university. He also studied in the United States
where he was awarded a Ph. D.
in Political science
from the University of California, Santa Barbara
in 1974.
. He was a member of the Committee of Experts that drafted the Fourth Republican Constitution for Ghana.
In 1992, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Interim National Electoral Commission by the then PNDC
, which was ruling as a military junta
, with the hope of returning the country to civilian rule. His job was to ensure that the November 1992 presidential election
and the December 1992 parliamentary elections
were free and fair. Jerry John Rawlings, the Chairman of the PNDC, who was also Head of State
, stood and won the elections.
With the coming into force of the Fourth Republican Constitution, a new Electoral Commission was set up and Afari-Gyan became its first substantive chairman. He has successfully supervised all the Ghanaian elections held under this constitution so far. He has successfully chaired the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections in 1992, 1996
, 2000
, 2004
and 2008. In the last of these a number of unofficial institutions attempted to declare the results of these elections, with Afari Gyan stating that these results could not be trusted.
In 1998, he 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.
Electoral Commission of Ghana
The Electoral Commission of Ghana is the official body in Ghana responsible for all public elections. Made up of seven members, its independence is guaranteed by the 1992 Ghana constitution. The current commission was established by the Electoral Commission Act of 1993.-Members:The Commission is...
. He is a Ghanaian academic
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
and political scientist
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
.
Education
Afari-Gyan was born at AnyimonAnyimon
Anyomin is a town located in the mid-western part of Ghana. It is in the Berekum Municipal District of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana.Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana was born here....
in the Brong-Ahafo Region
Brong-Ahafo Region
The Brong-Ahafo Region is located in mid-western Ghana, between the Ashanti Region and the Northern Region. Its capital is Sunyani.This region was created in 1958. It contains many cultural and wildlife attractions, but it is less known to tourists than the Ashanti, Northern, Central, or Greater...
of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. He graduated from the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
in 1967 with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He went on to attain a MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in African politics in 1969 from the same university. He also studied in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he was awarded a Ph. D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
in 1974.
Career
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 NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He was a member of the Committee of Experts that drafted the Fourth Republican Constitution for Ghana.
In 1992, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Interim National Electoral Commission by the then PNDC
Provisional National Defence Council
The Provisional National Defence Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the People's National Party's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. This was on December 31, 1981. It remained in power until January 7,...
, which was ruling as a military junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
, with the hope of returning the country to civilian rule. His job was to ensure that the November 1992 presidential election
Ghanaian presidential election, 1992
Presidential elections were held in Ghana on 3 November 1992. The result was a victory for Jerry John Rawlings, who won 58.4% of the vote. Voter turnout was 50.2%.-Results:...
and the December 1992 parliamentary elections
Ghanaian parliamentary election, 1992
The Ghanaian parliamentary election was held on 29 December 1992. This were the first parliamentary elections since the 1979 election, 13 years earlier. Presidential elections were held earlier on 3 November 1992. Only 28.1% of the registered voters turned out for the parliamentary elections...
were free and fair. Jerry John Rawlings, the Chairman of the PNDC, who was also Head of State
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
, stood and won the elections.
With the coming into force of the Fourth Republican Constitution, a new Electoral Commission was set up and Afari-Gyan became its first substantive chairman. He has successfully supervised all the Ghanaian elections held under this constitution so far. He has successfully chaired the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections in 1992, 1996
Ghanaian parliamentary election, 1996
The Ghanaian parliamentary election was held on 7 December 1996. Presidential elections were held on the same day. The result was a victory for the National Democratic Con, which won 133 of the 200 seats.-Results:-By region:-See also:...
, 2000
Ghanaian parliamentary election, 2000
The Ghanaian parliamentary election was held on 7 December 2000. Presidential elections were held on the same day with a second round on 28 December 2000. 62% of registered voters turned out for the elections...
, 2004
Ghanaian parliamentary election, 2004
The Ghanaian parliamentary election was held on 7 December 2004. Presidential elections were held on the same day.-Results:-See also:*List of Ghana Parliament constituencies*MPs elected in the Ghana parliamentary election, 2004-External links:**...
and 2008. In the last of these a number of unofficial institutions attempted to declare the results of these elections, with Afari Gyan stating that these results could not be trusted.
In 1998, he became the Executive Secretary of the Association of African Election Authorities
Association of African Election Authorities
The Association of African Election Authorities is a Regional Network of Election Management Bodies. The organization is dedicated to the professionalization of election administration through information exchange and regional networking...
. He was also member of a committee of experts to advice Nigeria on elections.