In a significant political move, a concerned resident from the Volta Region has taken a bold step by petitioning President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), along with her two deputies, Samuel Tetteh and Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, and EC member Dr. Peter Appiahene. Apexnewsgh reports
This petition, lodged on January 27, 2025, has brought to light serious accusations of fundamental human rights breaches under Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution.
The petitioner argues that the handling of the 2020 parliamentary elections led to the disenfranchisement of voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) areas, claiming this action represents a gross violation of citizens’ rights. In the petition, the accusation is made that the EC’s actions denied SALL residents their rightful representation in Parliament, effectively attempting to skew the balance of power in favor of certain political interests.
“For over four years, the people of SALL were left voiceless in the legislative process,” the petitioner states, highlighting the precarious balance of power within Parliament during a hung situation where their vote could have tipped the scales in favor of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The claim points to a pattern of bias and incompetence within the Electoral Commission that undermines public confidence in its integrity.
The petition also criticized the EC’s management of the 2020 elections, describing the process as ‘poor’ and citing numerous errors in the presidential election results. The petitioner emphasized that the chairperson and her deputies exhibited gross incompetence, particularly in light of the controversial announcement of critical decisions just before the elections, which failed to anticipate the potential ramifications of the new Guan District on electoral arrangements.
Adding another layer to the contention, the petition called into question the impartiality of Dr. Bossman Asare and Dr. Peter Appiahene, citing their prior social media comments that displayed overt bias towards the opposition party, raising doubts about their suitability for their roles within the Commission.
The resident’s plea to President Mahama urges decisive action under Article 146 of the Constitution to restore trust in the electoral process, bolstered by detailed exhibits and evidence to support these serious claims. As the streets wait for a response, the Presidency has yet to comment on the situation.
Jean Mensa, who was appointed as the EC Chairperson on July 23, 2018, has seen her share of controversies. She successfully navigated a similar petition in August 2020 that was dismissed by former President Akufo-Addo, despite previous allegations regarding her asset declaration. Furthermore, she faced scrutiny again in August 2022 when the pressure group, Fix the Country Movement, called for accountability over the disenfranchisement of the SALL residents.
As tensions rise, the future of the Electoral Commission hangs in the balance, challenging the integrity of Ghana’s electoral system and the fundamental rights of its citizens.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
