Group Petitions Mahama to Sack EC Boss and Deputies

A Civil Society Organistation calling itself the Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement-Africa (PTAAM-Africa) has petitioned the Office of President John Dramani Mahama to depose Jean Mensah as the country’s Electoral Commission Chairperson.

In a three-page letter, the group requested Jean’s removal along with all her deputies, accusing them of causing financial loss to the state, causing a constitutional crisis, and Misconduct and Abuse of Public Office.

It also accused them of poor leadership, outlining the disputed 2020 Presidential Election Results, Political Bias, re-collation of some Parliamentary results in the 2024 elections as their evidence.

“Pursuant to Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement-Africa (PTAAM-Africa), a civil society organization, respectfully petitions your high office to seek the removal of the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Mensa, and her Deputies from office.”

Financial Loss to the State
According to the Civil Society Organisation, the Commission headed by Jean caused a financial loss to the state when she procured a new biometric voter device and compiled a new voter register before the 2020 elections.

It argued that the significant financial loss caused to the state was “unnecessary” as the 2016 voter register and biometric devices were robust and fit for purpose.

Misconduct and Abuse of Public Office
The CSO raised issues of misconduct and abuse of public office by Mrs. Jean Mensa and her deputies, including Mr. Eric Bossman Asare.

“These issues include gross incompetence, bias, procurement breaches, and poor corporate governance, all of which undermine the principles of free, fair, and transparent elections.”

Creation of a Constitutional Crisis
“The current EC leadership, under the Chairperson Mrs Jean Mensa, knowingly created a constitutional crisis through actions and inactions leading up to the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections,” the petition added.

According to it, the Commission’s leadership ignored prudent advice from various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, traditional leaders, religious figures, and political parties, regarding the risks and implications of their decisions. Specifically, the decision to embark on a new voter registration exercise during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic endangered public health and exposed millions of Ghanaians to life-threatening risks.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini