“We can’t look at somebody and say because of your beauty the law does not apply to you; that is not how the law works.” President Nana Akufo-Addo, Nouakchott, Mauritania, 30th June 2018.
The above, MyNewsGh.com can confirm was one of the sentences uttered by his Excellency President Akufo-Addo when he met the Ghanaian community in Nouakchott Mauritania when he landed in that country for the 31st ordinary session of the African Union, explaining to the Ghanaian community why his hands were tied in the sacking of the Electoral Commissioner and her two deputies.
Charlotte Osei, who is admittedly ‘beautiful’ by all standards, and though immaterial, was appointed by the erstwhile Mahama government as EC but has been removed from her position owing to her breaches of the law regarding procurement processes at the Commission.
The Chief Justice formed a committee which recommended her sacking to the President.
Speaking to the Ghanaian community in Mauritania, President Akufo-Addo had this to say about the issue:
“I don’t have the power to say I disagree with the Committee; the law does not give me the power to investigate on my own to say I disagree with the committee,” he said in Twi on Saturday.
“The law says whatever recommendation the committee will present, I as the President, ought to obey and implement. That is why I removed madam Charlotte Osei and her two deputies from Office,” he tried to explained issues.
“The law is applicable to everyone in Ghana including me. If you do anything against the law, the law ought to be applied. It is painful but that’s what has happened” he added.
“We should all understand that it is not because of hatred or because we just wanted ways to remove her from office”.
“I urge Ghanaians to let understanding prevail in this matter so we look for new people who will come and work without any squabbles between them,” he added further.
The President and his entourage arrived in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on Saturday, 30th June 2018, for the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.
The meeting of the Heads of State will take place from 1st to 2nd July 2018, under the theme, “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable path to Africa’s Transformation”.
On his arrival on Saturday, he interacted with members of the Ghanaian community resident in Mauritania, where he assured them of Government’s commitment towards addressing rapidly their concerns.