A-G Sued Over Charlotte Osei Removal

A private citizen has hauled Gloria Akuffo the Attorney-General before the Supreme Court over the removal of Charlotte Osei Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) from office.

The plaintiff, Fafali Nyonator wants the apex court to declare that the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, breached the Constitution and exceeded the limits of her powers by defining the scope of a committee of enquiry that probed a petition for the removal of Mrs. Osei.

The plaintiff also wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining the President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from appointing a replacement for Mrs. Osei until that position has become lawfully vacant “in accordance with proper processes as by law established.

Sack

The EC Chairperson, Mrs. Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Amankwah, were removed from office on Thursday following findings of a Committee set up by the Chief Justice to probe petitions of corruption and abuse of office.

The former EC Chair, among other things, was found culpable of breaching procurement laws in the award of a contract to Dream Oval and engaging the legal services of law firm Sory@ Law.

Mrs Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa, were removed from office in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Justice’s committee which probed numerous allegations levelled against them.

Excerpts from the 54-page document which has been leaked to the media noted: “In all, the Chief Justice made a prima facie case against the Chairperson on six of the allegations contained in the said petition.

Suit

But the plaintiff in a writ filed at the Supreme Court yesterday further wants a declaration that the determination by the CJ of a prima facie case pursuant to article 146 of the constitution for the removal from office of the EC chairperson is inconsistent with article 130 (a) of the constitution as by the said determination, the CJ usurped the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to construe and or define the scope of application of the provisions of the constitution particularly article 44 (2) and 146.

Fafali also seeks an order declaring as null and void the said prima facie determination of the CJ, the report of the said committee of the EC as well as the decision of the President to remove from office the EC boss on the basis of the report.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson