The Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement-Africa (PTAAM-Africa), a Civil Society Organization, has filed a petition to President John Dramani Mahama seeking the removal of Mrs. Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), and her deputies.

The petition, submitted under Article 146 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, alleges misconduct, financial mismanagement, and actions that purportedly created a constitutional crisis during their tenure.

Key Grounds for Petition

Financial Loss to the State
PTAAM-Africa accuses the EC leadership of causing significant financial loss through the procurement of a new biometric voter device and the compilation of a new voter register ahead of the 2020 general elections. The group argues that the expenditure, running into millions of dollars, was unwarranted since the existing voter register and biometric devices from 2016 were functional and reliable.

Creation of a Constitutional Crisis
The petitioners allege that the EC’s decisions and actions, including initiating a nationwide voter registration exercise during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, posed severe public health risks and created a constitutional crisis. PTAAM-Africa claims that Mrs. Mensa and her team ignored advice from key stakeholders, including civil society groups, religious leaders, traditional authorities, and political parties, on the potential repercussions of their actions.

Misconduct and Abuse of Public Office
The petition further accuses the EC leadership of misconduct and abuse of office, citing instances of gross incompetence, procurement breaches, bias, and poor corporate governance. The group asserts that these actions have compromised the principles of free, fair, and transparent elections in Ghana.

PTAAM-Africa’s petition urges President Mahama to initiate the necessary processes under Article 146 to remove Mrs. Jean Mensa and her deputies from office.

The group emphasized the importance of restoring public confidence in Ghana’s electoral system, which they say has been undermined by the current EC leadership.

-Cecil MENSAH