Prof Baffour Agyeman-Duah, a former United Nations Senior Governance Adviser, has revealed that Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, and her two deputies, Dr Eric Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey, are next in line to be removed from office.
According to Prof Baffour Agyeman-Duah, the process for the removal of Jean Mensa and her deputies has already been initiated.
He highlighted that a petition has already been sent to President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking on JOYNEWS AM Show on Wednesday, September 3, Prof Baffour Agyeman-Duah stated, “In fact, yesterday [Tuesday], we were told that the NDC has not finished yet in terms of the people they intend to remove, and I guess it will be the Electoral Commissioners. I think a petition has already been sent to the President,” he revealed.
Prof Agyeman-Duah also stressed that the development surrounding the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo is a worrying trend of political interference in independent state institutions.
“You don’t have to politicise certain key institutions of governance so the people can continuously have trust and believe in the role that they play in a democracy,” he warned.
In the run-up to the 2024 election, there were growing concerns about the fairness of the Jean Mensa Electoral Commission.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), in particular, has been vocal about its dissatisfaction with the Commission’s handling of the recent elections.
The EC top officials are made up of Jean Mensa (Chairperson), Samuel Tettey (Deputy Chairman for Operations), Dr Bossman Eric Asare (Deputy Chairman for Corporate Services), Adwoa Asuama Abrefa (Commissioner), Salima Ahmed Tijani, Dr Peter Appiahene, and Rev Akua Ofori Boateng.
The NDC National Chairman, Asiedu Nketia, has already appeared to be setting the tone for the future sacking of the Electoral Commission boss despite the NDC victory.
He revealed that even before the NDC came to power, he was calling for a reset in the judiciary and the Electoral Commission, and he still stands by his calls.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah declared that Electoral Commission Chairperson Jean Mensa and other top officials must all be sacked.
Asiedu Nketia asserted that the fact that the NDC won the 2024 elections does not turn the Electoral Commission chairperson, Madam Jean Mensa, into an angel.
Speaking in an interview on Radio Gold, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah stated, “Before we came to power, I called for a reset of our various institutions, the judiciary, the Electoral Commission, and the Auditor General, and I termed it an institutional reset.
“I still stand by my comments because I raised these concerns first. Why should I change my mind just because we have won an election and the EC is now seen as an angel? For me, those at the top it not just one person, he stated.
In a separate interview, Asiedu Nketia also stated that the NDC had to dine with the devil in the 2024 elections regarding the party’s dealings with the Electoral Commission.
According to Asiedu Nketia, the NDC used a long spoon to beat the Jean Mensa-led EC in the 2024 election when they dined together.
The NDC chairman likened Madam Jean Mensa-led EC to the devil.
Asiedu Nketia is quoted by JOY NEWS as having stated, “We had to dine with the devil in 2024 -we used a long spoon to beat the EC”.
The NDC Chairman also cited the Electoral Commission’s handling of recent electoral matters, particularly the unresolved parliamentary election in Ablekuma North, as showing an institutional failure.
He noted that six months after the 2024 election, we still don’t have an elected MP for Ablekuma North.
Speaking on JOY NEWS, Asiedu Nketia stated, “There has to be a change… The three top leadership must all go. They have managed the commission so badly”.
“You cannot still be having an election that will go into a stalemate. There is no anticipation of any stalemate in our laws unless people don’t want to do their work well… It’s a clear case of negligence or inability to perform its functions,” he stated.
He added, “Six months on after the election, and we still don’t have an elected MP. That must tell you something is wrong”.
“This commission, as presently constituted, took over the reins of the Electoral Commission, and they have never done a satisfactory election… First was SALL. A whole constituency went unrepresented for four years. Now, Ablekuma North. And the Ayawaso West by-election? Everything has been messed up,” he added.
Asiedu Nketia further added, “Resetting the EC means bringing it back to an institution that is fit for purpose. The way it is existing now, it is not fit for purpose.”
“If in any serious country we want to maintain this type of Electoral Commission, then I don’t know what the country is about.”
Meanwhile, the Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development (CDS Africa), has advised President John Dramani Mahama not to attempt to replace the Electoral Commission chairperson, Jean Mensa and her two deputies.
According to them, any attempt by the president to make such a move will be faced with fierce opposition as doing so will set a dangerous precedent for future governments, potentially infringing upon the independence of the Commission.
CDS Africa’s petition comes after two separate petitions were filed against the EC Chairperson and her deputies – Dr Bossman Asare and Mr Samuel Tettey – alleging misconduct and calling for their removal from office.