CDD Schools NDC Over EC Job

The Head of Advocacy and Policy Engagements at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Kojo Asante has suggested to the National Democratic Congress to petition the Council of State if they can prove their claim that nominee for the post of Electoral Commission Chair, is politically tainted.

“We should not take the opportunity that the Council of State offers us lightly. Constitutionally, that is the only body now that can put any restraint or checks on a discretion of the President,” the governance expert stated.

The President on Monday, nominated four persons to be approved by the Council of State to fill vacancies at the Electoral Commission.

The list has Head of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Jean Mensa who has been nominated Chairperson of the EC, Mr Samuel Tettey and Dr Eric Asare Bossman as Deputy Chairpersons.

They will replace Mrs Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Mrs Georgina Opoku Amankwaa respectively, who were removed by the President for stated misbehavior.

Ms Adwoa Asuama has also been named as a member of the Commission to replace Mrs Pauline Dadzawa who has proceeded on retirement.

The opposition NDC has strongly kicked against Jean Mensa’s nomination.

The political party has claimed to have “further and better particulars” to prove that Mrs Mensa is unfit for the job and would in due course present them to the public.

“We are shocked because, until this appointment, the president had given assurance to the nation that the persons to be appointed into the Commission would be persons whose integrity and political neutrality would be above board,” the NDC indicated in a release.

However, Kojo Asante says the NDC should “take advantage of the Council of State process” and demonstrate with evidence to the effect that Jean Mensa is inclined to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“So I expect the NDC to…make those particulars available to the Council of State who are currently in the process of considering the President’s nominations,” he said.

According to the CDD man, the capacity and experience of the new EC Chair nominee is unquestionable. “Jean Mensa is a known quantity…as for her capacity and experience I don’t see any question,” he added.