1. Introduction
Pursuant to Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement-Africa (PTAAM-Africa), a civil society organization, respectfully petitions your high office to seek the removal of the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Menssa, and her Deputies from office.
1. Grounds for the Petition
2.1 Financial Loss to the State
The procurement of a new biometric voter device and the compilation of a new voter register before the 2020 general elections caused significant financial loss to the state. This expenditure, amounting to millions of taxpayer dollars, was unnecessary as the 2016 voter register and biometric devices were robust and fit for purpose.
2.2 Creation of a Constitutional Crisis
The current EC leadership, under the Chairperson Mrs. Jean Menssa, knowingly created a constitutional crisis through actions and inactions leading up to the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. They ignored prudent advice from various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, traditional leaders, religious figures, and political parties, regarding the risks and implications of their decisions.
Specifically, the decision to mandate a new voter registration exercise during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic endangered public health and exposed millions of Ghanaians to life-threatening risks.
2.3 Misconduct and Abuse of Public Office
This petition is grounded on allegations of misconduct and abuse of public office by Mrs. Jean Menssa and her deputies, including Mr. Eric Bossman Asare. These issues include gross incompetence, bias, procurement breaches, and poor corporate governance, all of which undermine the principles of free, fair, and transparent elections.
1. Key Incidents Highlighting Poor Leadership
3.1 COVID-19 Risks
The decision to undertake a new voter registration and exhibition exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic was reckless and avoidable. This move, allegedly aimed at favoring President Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2020 general elections, risked the lives of 30.2 million Ghanaians.
3.2 Disputed 2020 Presidential Election Results
The 2020 presidential election results were announced and revised five times, leading to widespread confusion and suspicion of deliberate manipulation to favor President Akufo-Addo. This undermined public confidence in the EC’s ability to conduct credible elections. Furthermore, during parliamentary elections, eight innocent Ghanaians were tragically killed by unidentified security personnel, further highlighting the EC’s poor handling of the electoral process.
3.3 Observers’ Reports
International observers, including ECOWAS, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU), issued damning reports on the 2020 elections. They highlighted a lack of transparency in the collation of presidential results, with processes described as opaque and untrustworthy.
3.4 Political Bias
The appointment of individuals with affiliations to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to strategic positions within the EC has compromised transparency and accountability, leading to a lack of public trust in the commission.
3.5 The Re-collation is Unlawful
According to CI 127, 2020, the re-collation exercise conducted by the Electoral Commission is unlawful. The commission’s actions, including designating collation centers without proper authorization, have been widely condemned.
3.6 Conclusion
The Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement-Africa calls on President John Dramani Mahama to act on this petition. Removing Mrs. Jean Mensa and her deputies will help restore public trust and transparency in the Electoral Commission, reaffirming Ghana’s status as a beacon of hope for democracy in Africa.
Sincerely,
Mr. Ebenezer K. Havor
President, PTAAM-Africa
(0243113999)
Rashid Isah
Vice President of PTAAM-AFRICA
(+233 55 808 0780)
Mr. Raphdel Delanyo Apalu
Director of Operations, PTAAM-Africa
(1233 24 497 2113)
Mr. Alfred Kojo Triddle
Executive Member, PTAAM-Africa
(+233 26 623 4521)
