| The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticized the nomination of the Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Jean Adukwei Mensah, as the new chairperson of the Electoral Commission, describing her as a “known pro-NPP and an avowed anti-NDC person“.
General Secretary of the opposition party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, affectionately called “General Mosquito”, claims the Nana Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, has appointed its own referee to conduct and rig the 2020 presidential and parliamentary polls in their favour. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Monday, announced Ms Jean Mensah’s nomination in a press statement signed by the Chief of Staff, Hon Akosua Frema Osei-Opare. “President Akufo-Addo is hopeful that the Council of State will discharge its constitutional duty expeditiously, to enable hint make these critical appointments to this very important institution of State,” the statement added. The coming on board of Mrs. Mensah comes in the wake of the controversial removal from office last month of the former EC boss, Charlotte Osei under the grounds of ‘stated misbehavior and incompetence‘. Madam Charlotte Osei, was sacked together with her two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Mrs. Georgina Opoku Amankwah, by President Akufo-Addo, after the Committee established by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, to investigate petitions brought against them, recommended their removal. Commenting on the news of the nominations in an interview with Peacefmonline.com, the NDC Chief Scribe believed government is attempting to influence the 2020 General Elections in their favour by appointing individuals with links to the NPP to manage the EC. “How can you appoint your own coach as referee to officiate a match against your opponent,” Gen. Mosquito quizzed. A clearly shocked Asiedu Nketiah stated that until the nomination of Ms Jean Mensah, President Akufo-Addo had given the assurance to the nation that the persons to be named would be people of high integrity and political neutrality. “For him to proceed contrary to his earlier assurances to appoint a known pro-NPP and an avowed anti-NDC person, defies all senses of decency, fairness and justice and amounts to a gross abuse of the discretionary powers appointment vested in him by the constitution,” he added. Scary & Lawless– NDC MPs Meanwhile, some Minority members in Parliament have described the nominations as “scary” and “an act of lawlessness“. |
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Member of Parliament (MP) for Juaboso Kwabena Minta Akandoh said the actions of the president could jeopardise the peace of the country more so when a citizen is challenging the removal of Mrs Osei in the country’s apex court. “I am very disappointed and scared for Ghana. I am really scared. The democracy that we have all contributed to, I think the president is sending us back in terms of years, that he could have that courage to go ahead and fire not less than three people from the Electoral Commission and irrespective of whatever everybody is saying in the country, go ahead and appoint new members to the Commission. I understand that the issue is in court at the moment.” On his part, the MP for Sagnarigu A.B.A Fuseini added: “… When you say on behalf of the minority, we’re very appalled about this announcement that the president is making left, right and Centre. If it is not for an ulterior and also of the motive of wanting to pack the electoral commission with sympathizers of the NPP in order for them to rig the 2020 elections for the NPP government, It is also an act of…. lawlessness.” |
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