General News of Thursday, 14 December 2017

Source: mynewsgh.com

Akufo-Addo has personal interest in ousting EC boss - Koku Anyidoho

Charlotte Osei, EC Chairperson Charlotte Osei, EC Chairperson

Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of having personal interest in the petition seeking to oust the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Madam Charlotte Osei from office.

“If Nana Akufo-Addo was not interested he could have ignored the petition”, the outspoken Deputy General Secretary alleged on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM morning show

“The fact that he forwarded the petition to the Chief Justice for further investigation tells you he has a vested interest in the matter”, Koku Anyidiho added during a telephone interview.

According to him, the President of the Republic has every right to ignore the petition to show he does not support impeachment of Madam Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Georgina Opoku Amankwa and Amadu Sulley.

“The President could have used his executive and discretionary powers to decide that the petition would not have gone to the Chief Justice and it will not see the light of the day”.

According to the former Presidential Spokesperson, some persons in 2009 petitioned for the removal of the immediate past Chief Justice, Georgina Wood but the late President ignored it.

“I was expecting President Akufo-Addo not to entertain the petition as President Mills did”, Koku Anyidoho stated.

Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, initiated what many say is a possible impeachment process when she empaneled a five-member committee last month to look into the allegations.

The inquisitorial committee, whose members are yet to be made public, is expected to investigate Mrs Osei, together with her two deputies, Georgina Opoku-Amankwa, who is in-charge of Corporate Services, and Amadu Sulley, in charge of Operations.

The EC was thrown into turmoil in July this year after some unnamed staff petitioned President Akufo-Addo to trigger an impeachment process against Charlotte Osei.

Mrs Osei launched her own attack, drawing in the two deputies.

The accusation against Charlotte Osei included funneling of GH¢3.9 million to partition an office, her receipt of a Toyota Land Cruiser from the Mahama government, expending about $14 million when the Public Procurement Authority had authorised her to use only $7.5 million.