Edem Senanu, the Co-Chair of the Citizens Movement Against Corruption (CMaC), has said the growing appetite for petitions seeking dismissals of leaders of Independent bodies cannot become a routine.
According to Edem Senanu, the growing trend of petitions seeking dismissals of
He asserted that the growing number of petitions for high-level dismissals could lead to competent professionals refusing to accept roles in independent institutions.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, December 2, Edem Senanu stated, “We cannot continue on this path where demands for the removal of heads of independent bodies become routine”.
“Eventually, many capable individuals will shy away from taking up these offices because they may end up spending most of their tenure responding to petitions,” he added.
“Considering the challenges they face and the work they do, the OSP is vital in ensuring accountability among politically exposed persons,” he noted.
His comments follow, President Mahama receiving 10 petitions for the removal of two heads of public institutions and two deputies appointed under Article 70 of the Constitution.
A news flyer by JoyNews, which was shared on social media, revealed that the two institutions are the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
The Joynews flyer read, “President Mahama refers seven petitions seeking the removal of Jean Menas and her two deputies, and three petitions for the removal of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng to the Chief Justice”.
Meanwhile, Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi, the former Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, has alleged that the Presidency is behind the ten petitions seeking the removal of Jean Mensa and the Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
According to Kissi Adomako, the Mahama government orchestrated the 10 petitions.
The former MP highlighted that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in opposition promised to remove the Electoral Commission leadership, and they are keeping to their word.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Tuesday, December 2, Dr Adomako Kissi stated, “I must commend the NDC for keeping to their word; they are doing exactly as they promised that when they come, they will remove the EC”.
Dr Adomako Kissi also took a swipe at the Minister in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, accusing him of misleading the public.
“I have every right to tell Felix that he did well lying to Ghanaians that the Executive has nothing to do with the petition,” he remarked.
Dr Adomako Kissi’s comment follows Kwakye Ofosu, who refuted widespread claims that President John Mahama or the Presidency had engineered or influenced the petitions.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu noted that neither the content nor the initiation of the petitions originated from the presidency.