EC Dismissals: Akufo-Addo Acted “Properly” – Mpiani

Kwadwo Mpiani, a former Chief of Staff in the Kufuor Administration, says President Nana Akufo-Addo acted within the remits of the law in sacking the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Charlotte Osei and her two deputies

According to him, the president “acted properly” in axing the Mrs. Osei, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwah.

“That’s what the law is, isn’t it? So, the president acted properly. It’s never happened before but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen”, Mr. Mpiani said.

The President last week dismissed the trio following the recommendation of the Committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo pursuant to Article 146(4) of the Constitution, to investigate separate complaints brought against the three persons by Ghanaian citizens.

Barley a day after the sack, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) mounted a spirited defense for Mrs. Osei insisting her dismissal was politically motivated.

Breaking his silence on the matter recently, the President speaking in Mauritania at the AU Summit, said “In the last six months, the committee has been investigating allegations of corruption against Charlotte Osei and her deputies. The committee completed its findings last week and concluded that Charlotte Osei and her two deputies erred. Based on Article 146 (9), the committee recommended that Charlotte Osei and her deputies should be removed from office”, adding that: “I could not oppose the committee’s recommendation because I have no such powers”.

The president stressed: “The law requires that I obey the recommendation by the committee, and that necessitated the dismissal of Charlotte Osei and her deputies”, noting that: “This is our constitution”.

“We all need to understand that Charlotte Osei and her deputies were not dismissed out of hatred or malice”, the president said, adding: “Those who brought the petition were employees of the Electoral Commission, so, I plead with Ghanaians to work together to find persons who will be transparent to work as electoral commissioners”.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson