Be firm and fair – CODEO urges EC

The Coalition of the Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has admonished the new crop of leaders at the Electoral Commission to be firm and fair in their endeavors and ensure that the commission becomes dependable.

President Nana Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, sworn into office, the new Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensah who was the former Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, (IEA) and three other members of the commission.

The three others were Samuel Tettey as deputy Chairperson, Dr. Eric Asare Bossman, also a deputy Chairperson, and Ms. Adwoa Asuama Abrefa as a Member of Commission.

Jean Mensah replaced former EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei who was removed from office for stated misbehavior and alleged procurement breaches.

CODEO in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Albert Arhin, said it expects the new EC frontrunners to provide the needed leadership, guidance and direction for election administration in the country.

“CODEO hopes that the new leadership of the Commission will take concrete steps to ensure that indeed the Commission is dependable and accountable to the people of Ghana. The Commissioners must be fair and firm in their work, be team players, uphold integrity, be transparent and accountable in their dealings, and enhance public confidence in the Electoral Commission and its work,” the statement added.

CODEO also assured of its readiness to lend support to the commission when the need arises as it has done in years past.
 “CODEO wishes to assure the new Chairperson, members and the entire Electoral Commission that as it has always done since the year 2000 when the Coalition was formed, it stands in readiness to work with them to deepen the integrity and credibility of election administration in Ghana.”

“The Commission can always count on CODEO to support and safeguard credible electoral processes. CODEO finally calls on all current Commissioners, the entire staff of the EC, political parties, the media, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and major election stakeholders to work with the new leadership of the Commission towards credible election administration and for the good of Ghana,” the statement added.

The swearing in was done after the Supreme Court dismissed an injunction suit by a Ghanaian citizen, Fafali Nyonatorto, who sought to stop the President from continuing with the process of appointing a new Electoral Commission Chair.

Fafali Nyonatorto was challenging Charlotte Osei’s removal

But according to the seven-member panel of Supreme Court judges, the constitution in Article 2 (2) makes available remedies for a reinstatement if the court finds the removal of Charlotte Osei unconstitutional.
The office of the President on Monday, July 23, 2018, announced the nomination of four (4) top officials for the Electoral Commission (EC).
President Nana Akufo-Addo made it clear that the removal of the Charlotte Osei and her two deputies from office was done without malice.

According to him, he only discharged a constitutional mandate as expected of him.

“Respect for due process and constitutional propriety led to the discharge of the heavy duty of giving effect to the recommendations of the constitutional body that investigated the petitions against the former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her two deputies. I acted as directed by the constitution without any malice or premeditation,” he said on Saturday.