A petition addressed to President John Dramani Mahama has demanded the removal of the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, along with her deputies, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare and Mr. Samuel Tettey, and a commissioner, Dr. Peter Appiahene.
The petition, invoking Article 146 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, outlines several allegations, including breaches of constitutional rights, incompetence, and bias that undermine public confidence in the electoral body. The petition emphasizes that their actions have violated key provisions, particularly Articles 42, 23, and 296.
Constitutional Violations
One of the highlighted grievances is the exclusion of voters from Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) during the 2020 parliamentary elections.
The petition notes, “The Electoral Commission’s decision, announced on the eve of the elections, disenfranchised SALL residents, breaching their constitutional right to vote under Article 42.” It adds that the EC’s decision also compromised the legislative representation of the affected communities for over four years.
Allegations of Incompetence
The petition further accuses the EC leadership of gross incompetence, citing their handling of the 2020 general elections as a case in point. The EC Chairperson declared results that were later corrected multiple times, creating widespread confusion and distrust.
This culminated in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by John Dramani Mahama, challenging the results in the Supreme Court. According to the petition, “This administrative failure strained public trust in the Commission and questioned its capacity to ensure free and fair elections.”
Allegations of Bias
Allegations of bias also feature prominently, particularly against Dr. Eric Bossman Asare. The petition presents past social media posts by Dr. Asare, in which he allegedly made partisan statements against the NDC. One post from 2016 reportedly predicted the decline of the NDC, describing their potential loss as a positive development.
The petition states, “Such overtly partisan comments before assuming office raise serious questions about his impartiality and suitability for the role.”
Public Reaction and Next Steps
As of now, the Electoral Commission and its leadership have not issued a formal response to the petition. Political analysts suggest that the petition could deepen the already existing public scrutiny of the EC, especially as Ghana approaches its next electoral cycle.
In conclusion, the petition argues that these issues cumulatively erode public confidence in Ghana’s electoral process. It calls for immediate action to uphold the integrity of the EC, stressing that its leadership has failed to act in a manner consistent with the principles of neutrality, fairness, and justice required under the Constitution. As debates around these allegations intensify, public scrutiny of the EC’s leadership is expected to grow.
Meanwhile, the Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement (PTAAM) – Ghana has also petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to remove the Mrs. Jean Mensa, along with her deputies. In their letter to the President, PTAAM cited several grounds for the petition, including financial mismanagement, misconduct, abuse of public office, and the creation of a constitutional crisis.
They accused Mrs. Mensa and her deputies of poor leadership, particularly during critical events such as the disputed 2020 presidential election results and the controversial voters’ registration exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PTAAM expressed confidence that President Mahama would act to restore public trust in the EC, reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to upholding democratic standards.
