President John Mahama has been petitioned to remove Jean Mensa, Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), along with her deputies Samuel Tetteh and Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, and EC member Dr. Peter Appiahene, over allegations of constitutional breaches and misconduct.

Filed on January 27, the petition argues that the EC’s actions violated citizens’ fundamental rights, particularly under Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees the right to vote. It also claims that the actions of the EC officials violated Articles 23 and 296, which mandate fairness and impartiality in public office.

A key issue raised in the petition is the disenfranchisement of voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) areas during the 2020 parliamentary elections. The petitioner, from the Volta Region, argues that excluding these voters denied them parliamentary representation for over four years, potentially affecting the balance of power in a hung parliament. The petition claims that this exclusion could have tilted the parliamentary majority in favor of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing the EC of partisan bias.

The petition also alleges poor management of the 2020 election process, citing errors in the presidential election results and claims of overt partisanship by certain EC officials. It specifically criticizes EC Chair Jean Mensa and her deputies for incompetence, noting that decisions such as the creation of the Guan District, announced close to the election date, were poorly handled and failed to anticipate the impact on the electoral process.

Further concerns are raised regarding Dr. Bossman Asare and Dr. Peter Appiahene, with the petition accusing Asare of displaying bias before his appointment through social media posts that were critical of the opposition. The petition argues that such comments raise serious questions about his impartiality and fitness for office.

The petition calls on President Mahama to invoke Article 146 of the Constitution, which outlines the process for removing public officials, in order to restore public confidence in the electoral process. The petition is supported by exhibits and evidence to substantiate the claims, though the Presidency has yet to respond.

Jean Mensa, appointed as EC Chair in July 2018 following the dismissal of her predecessor Charlotte Osei, has overseen two major elections since taking office. This is not the first time Mensa has faced calls for her removal. In August 2020, a petition from the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) was dismissed by President Akufo-Addo, despite concerns over her failure to declare her assets prior to a CHRAJ report. Mensa later took corrective action when the issue was raised.

In August 2022, the Fix the Country Movement also petitioned the former President regarding the disenfranchisement of SALL voters, echoing similar concerns raised in the current petition.

The Presidency has not yet issued a statement regarding the latest petition.

Source:TheDotNews