‘…My trust is in God’

Contrary to expectations of many that Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei will hit back at her virulent critics, the first female head of the election management body says she is unmoved by malicious attacks on her person mainly by members of the governing party.

Drawing inspiration from God, the splendid EC boss says though the unpalatable attacks on her person were intended to discourage her from discharging her duties, she will do what she has been directed by God to do.

“That’s all that matters to me. If God tells me, 'go and do this assignment', I may not like the assignment, but I have to trust that there is a reason why I have been asked to do it. And also you believe that the person, who has sent you, will empower you to do it. So for me, that is my starting point, and so I go in with that confidence that comes from the person that has given me the assignment.”

…So they are going to throw everything at you to just get you out of that space. Once you recognize that, then you recognize those comments for the distractions that they are and you just focus on doing what you have been called to do and to do an excellent job,” Mrs Osei stated when contributing to a panel discussion on Joy Fm to mark International Women’s Day.
Responding for the first time to allegations by Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong and the New Patriotic Party that, she traded sex for her job, Mrs Osei said the comments, though hurtful, don’t bother her.

“My sense of self should not come from somebody who does not know me. If the person thinks I got my job through sexual favors, surely, there are other more rewarding and less difficult jobs I could use that sexual favors for,” she noted.

The EC boss questioned if the foul-mouth Assin Central legislator and his ilk only give employment opportunities to women who acquiesce to their sexual demands. “And in any case, this is man who is sleeping with other women, so why didn’t he give the job to those women,” he added.

After failed attempts to use the apex court of the land to overturn Mrs Osei appointment by former President John Dramani Mahama, the NPP resorted to assassinating the character of the EC boss.

In one of the NPP’s scathing attacks directed at Mrs Osei which was roundly condemned by many, Hon Kennedy Agyapong, speaking at a campaign rally at Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, alleged that the EC boss traded her body to get appointment from the then president, Mr Mahama.

“Charlotte Osei, bring your buttocks (sexual affair) in exchange of EC Chair position (fa woto be gye golf)," he alleged

Enjoying support and endorsement from leading members of his party, Hon Agyapong vowed never to retract and apologize for his scandalous comments. “Apologize to Charlotte my foot. Why should I apologize? I won't apologize today, I won't apologize tomorrow. Ghanaians are hypocrites. Charlotte is a wicked woman. It's important that I make Ghanaians know about her personal life too,” he said.

Not even admonishing by the Managing Editor of The aL-hAJJ, Alhaji Bature Iddrisu, to the NPP to apologize to the EC for leading unjustifiable attacks on her found favor with members of the ruling party.

“President Akufo-Addo and the NPP knew what they were spreading about Madam Charlotte Osei were completely false and imaginary yet, they went ahead to say so to woo Ghanaians to their side that the EC was working with the NDC to rig the election for former president John Mahama. Look at what Charlotte Osei went through because of these lies…she was abused by Ghanaians who bought into these lies churned out by NPP. They (NPP) must do the honorable thing if indeed; they have conscience,” Alhaji Bature noted.

And as if yielding to the advice of The al-hAJJ managing editor, President Akufo-Addo, who never condemned the unprovoked attacks on the EC boss by his followers, guiltily mentioned Mrs Osei in passing for conducting one of the hitches-free elections in the world.

Delivering his maiden State of the Nation Address, President Akufo-Addo lamely had this to say of the EC boss, “Mr. Speaker, I use this occasion to commend the Electoral Commission and its chairperson, Mrs. Charlotte Osei for the conduct of our recent elections which has received domestic and international acclaimed.”

While many thought the unpalatable attacks was hurting her, Mrs Osei said she was not disturbed by the comments, saying men generally tend to prevent women from coming into their space, so once a woman is given the opportunity to be like them, they do all they can to bring her down.

“So they are going to throw everything at you to just to get you out of that space. Once you recognize that, then you recognize those comments for the distractions that they are and you just focus on doing what you have been called to do and to do an excellent job,” she said.

She encouraged women to psyche themselves up that men will not give them the chance, but they must show up prepared to deliver and also give off their very best at all times.

“So you know that you need to apply yourself, you need to work really hard, you need to be very diligent in what you are doing and you need to constantly add to your knowledge base and your skills.”