The Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, (IEA) Jean Adukwei Mensa, has been nominated as the new Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.<\/p>\n
This was announced in a statement from the Presidency on Monday, July 23, 2018.<\/p>\n
Other persons nominated for appointment by President Akufo-Addo to the Commission include;<\/p>\n
1. Samuel Tettey \u2013 Deputy Chairperson
\n2. Dr. Eric Asare Bossman \u2013 Deputy Chairperson
\n3. Ms. Adwoa Asuama Abrefa \u2013 Member of Commission<\/p>\n
The statement, signed by the Chief of Staff, Frema Opare-Osei said Akufo-Addo, had \u201csought the advice of the Council of State in accordance with Article 70(2) of the Constitution, for the appointment of a new Chairperson, two Deputy Chairpersons and\u00a0a Member of the Electoral Commission (EC).\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPresident Akufo-Addo is hopeful that the Council of State will discharge its constitutional duty expeditiously, to enable him make\u00a0these critical appointments to this very important institution of State,\u201d the statement added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Charlotte Osei removed<\/strong><\/p>\n
President Akufo-Addo on June 28, 2018, removed the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies \u2013 Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwa from office upon the recommendation of a committee set up by the Chief Justice, to investigate separate complaints brought by some Ghanaian citizens.<\/p>\n
Charlotte Osei was accused of various procurement breaches, whilst the deputies were also found guilty of same offenses as well as financial malfeasance.<\/p>\n
Although government spokespersons have justified the move, some members of the opposition have challenged it, saying Madam Charlotte Osei, who was appointed by then-President John Mahama, was only hounded out to enable the NPP rig the election in 2020.<\/p>\n
Court cases<\/strong><\/p>\n
The Editor-in-Chief of the Crusading Guide Newspaper, Mr. Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, has sued the government over the dismissal of Charlotte Osei.<\/p>\n
In a writ invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court for the interpretation of the Constitution, Mr. Kwaku Baako argued that the Chief Justice Committee which investigated petitions for the removal of the EC Boss exceeded its constitutional mandate.<\/p>\n
He thus asked the Supreme Court to pronounce the removal inconsequential.<\/p>\n
His suit came after another Ghanaian, Fafali Nyonator, also sued the Attorney General against the removal of Charlotte Osei.<\/p>\n
Supreme Court can\u2019t stop President<\/strong><\/p>\n
But Godfred Dame, a Deputy Attorney General in an interview on Metro TV\u2019s Good Evening Ghana, had said the appointment of a new\u00a0EC chair will go ahead regardless of the legal lawsuits<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n