Former Attorney General Ayikoi Otoo has weighed in on the recent petition seeking the removal of Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa and her deputies, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare and Mr. Samuel Tettey stated that the allegations against them do not meet the constitutional threshold for removal from office.
The petition, submitted by Kwame Ofosu-Appiah on January 27, 2025, accuses the EC officials of gross misconduct, human rights violations, and incompetence. However, in an interview with Joy News, Otoo argued that the claims do not provide sufficient legal grounds for their removal. He pointed out that many of the allegations relate to actions or statements made by the accused before they assumed their roles at the EC.
Otoo noted, “One of the deputies was accused of comments made while exercising his academic freedom. Young people sometimes express certain views or engage in behaviors as part of their development. This doesn’t disqualify them from holding public office later in life.”
He stressed that it is the Chief Justice’s responsibility to determine whether these allegations hold any legal weight. “From my perspective, I don’t see anything substantial enough to justify their removal. These are serious constitutional matters, and while individuals have the right to seek redress, we must be cautious not to undermine institutions by jumping to conclusions.”
The petition invokes Article 146 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which outlines the process for removing high-ranking public officials. It accuses the EC Chair and her deputies of mismanaging critical electoral processes, leading to public distrust in the Commission’s ability to protect Ghana’s democracy. The petitioner claims these alleged failures have undermined the integrity of the Electoral Commission and threatened the credibility of the country’s democratic institutions.
Despite these claims, Otoo emphasized the need to handle such serious allegations carefully, especially when they concern a vital institution like the EC. He warned against rushing to conclusions that could destabilize Ghana’s democratic framework.
“Institutional integrity is crucial, and we must ensure that due process is followed to determine the merit of these claims,” Otoo added.
Source:TheDotNews