Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC] has said his party cannot work with Jean Mensa who has been nominated to chair the Electoral Commission if she’s approved.
According to him, President Nana Akufo-Addo by his appointment of the new EC officials is gradually plunging the country into chaos.
[contextly_sidebar id=”v8csq6VsyWt5Yn3MWjdGy5sAPL0d9xOL”]Mr. Ade Coker said as a major stakeholder the NDC should have been consulted before Jean’s Mensa’s appointment.
“If we are not careful and we start this kind of trajectory, we will end up breaking this country. Let us be seen doing the right thing. We are not going to work with her [Jean Mensa ]. We will get there [elections 2020], we will cross the bridge.”
Speaking on Citi TV’s Breakfast Daily show, Mr. Ade Coker likened the NDC’s stance on the new EC appointments to a football match where one team refuses to play because they have unresolved issues with the officiating referees. He says it is impossible for the NPP to go to the elections alone.
“How can you have a football match and one of the teams say we don’t want the referee and the team doesn’t play the match. How can you play the match? You will play it alone. Let’s be serious; we are major stakeholders. We have come a long way. 25 years of political dispensation. Let’s not truncate it.”
Citing a citinewsroom.com publication in 2015 when the then Flagbearer of the NPP called on President John Mahama to be transparent in the appointment of a replacement for the outgoing EC boss, Mr. Ade Coker said President Nana Akufo-Addo with the appointment of Jean Mensa had taken the same action he advised Ex-President Mahama against.
Mr. Ade Coker further accused Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa and the newly nominated deputy EC Chair, Dr. Eric Asare Bossman of being well-known sympathizers of the NPP.
He also said Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa is a card-bearing member of the NPP hence not fit for the EC top job.
EC appointments regrettable – Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama in a tweet on Tuesday, July 24, described the nomination of four new officials to the Electoral Commission as a “regrettable” decision by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
According to Mr. Mahama, the controversy surrounding the removal of Mrs. Charlotte Osei and her deputies, and the subsequent appointment of Jean Mensa and other officials is a potential threat to Ghana’s democratic credentials.
President Akufo-Addo removes Charlotte Osei, deputies
In June 2018, President Akufo-Addo removed the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa from office.
This was after a committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, under Article 146(4) of the Constitution, investigated separate complaints of procurement breaches and financial malfeasance brought against the three persons by some Ghanaian citizens including staff of the Electoral Commission.
The Committee recommended their removal on the basis of stated misbehavior and incompetence, under Article 146 (1) of the Constitution.
Replacements named
On Monday, July 23, 2018, the Presidency announced the nomination of the Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, (IEA) Jean Adukwei Mensa as the new Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
Other persons nominated for appointment by President Akufo-Addo to the Commission included Samuel Tettey for the Deputy Chairperson, Dr. Eric Asare Bossman also as a Deputy Chairperson and Adwoa Asuama Abrefa as a Member of Commission.
Meanwhile, the Progressive People Party (PPP), have also accused President Nana Akufo-Addo of failing to consult political party representatives before the appointments.
In a statement signed by the National Secretary, Murtala Mohammed, it said the appointment of the new EC officials would have “passed the litmus test of transparency, good governance, and best practices” if they were consulted.
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By: Jude Mensa Duncan/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
