MAHAMA PETITIONED TO REMOVE EC CHAIR, DEPUTIES, AND NPP COMMUNICATOR

A resident of the Volta Region has formally petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to initiate the proceedings necessary for the removal of Jean Mensa, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), along with Deputy EC Chairs Samuel Tetteh and Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, as well as EC member and prominent New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator, Dr. Peter Appiahene.

The petition, filed by Ofosu-Appiah Daniel on January 27, calls for the removal of these officials citing concerns over breaches of fundamental human rights outlined in Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution. The petition also points to alleged biases, incompetence, and actions that have undermined public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the Commission, in violation of Articles 23 and 296 of the Constitution.

Specifically highlighted in the petition is the controversial disenfranchisement of voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) area during the 2020 parliamentary elections, which the petitioner argues violated citizens’ rights under Article 42 of the Constitution. The petitioner emphasizes that the exclusion of SALL voters for over four years deprived them of parliamentary representation and potentially impacted the composition of Parliament.

Furthermore, the petitioner accuses the EC of conducting the 2020 general election incompetently, pointing to errors in presidential election results and allegations of partisan behavior by certain commissioners. The petitioner calls on President Mahama to take action under Article 146 of the Constitution to restore public confidence in the electoral process.

As of now, there has been no public response from the Presidency, as President Mahama is currently out of the country on a trip to Kenya and other countries. Jean Mensa was appointed as EC chair in July 2018 following the removal of her predecessor, Charlotte Osei, under the previous administration amidst controversy and allegations from opposition figures.