News:
November 21, 2018
Members of Parliament (MPs), in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sought for more explanation as to what led to the removal of former chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies.
This was when the Bawku Central legislator, Mahama Ayariga who is a member of the community legislature, presented Ghana’s country report and touched on the removal of the former EC chair.
“In the year under review, the electoral landscape witnessed a major shake-up in both structure and form of the National Electoral Commission. Upon a petition filed to the President of the Republic and subsequent activation and subject of the petition to a constitutional process, the chairperson of the EC, Ms Charlotte Osei was removed from office and a successor, Mrs. Jean Mensah, appointed. Two Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission were also removed from office and replaced”.
Mr. Mahama Ayariga explained to his colleagues that the removal of the former EC boss was not during the conduct of the general elections of Ghana, “it has to do with the administration of the commission itself”.
“People may disagree with some content of the petition and the judgment of the committee, but once the committee comes to that conclusion the President would have to act”, he pointed out.
Most MPs who express concern about the removal of the former EC of Ghana, indicated that with the sub region most countries regard Ghana as a role model when it comes to conduct of election and were worried about the development.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com