Call for Accountability: President Mahama Petitioned to Remove EC Chair Jean Mensa and 3 Others

President John Mahama has been petitioned to remove the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Jean Mensa, along with Deputy EC Chairs, Samuel Tetteh and Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, and EC member, Dr. Peter Appiahene. The petition, filed on January 27, cites a breach of fundamental human rights under Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution and constitutional breaches such as incompetence, bias, and actions that undermine public confidence in the Commission’s impartiality and integrity.

At the heart of the petition is the disenfranchisement of voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) areas during the 2020 parliamentary elections. The petitioner argues that this action denied SALL residents representation in Parliament and may have influenced the balance of power in a hung parliament. “For over four years, the people of SALL were deprived of their constitutional right to parliamentary representation, leaving them without a voice in the legislative process,” the petition states.

The petition also alleges poor management during the 2020 elections, with errors in presidential election results and claims of overt partisanship by certain commissioners. “The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, in concert with her deputies, has demonstrated gross incompetence in the performance of her duties,” the petition claims. Furthermore, the petitioner references past comments and actions by Dr. Bossman Asare and Dr. Peter Appiahene, accusing them of compromising the EC’s impartiality. “Dr. Bossman Asare made numerous social media comments on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter before his appointment, displaying overt bias against the opposition party.”

The petition calls on President Mahama to act under Article 146 of the Constitution to restore public confidence in the electoral process. The petition is supported by detailed exhibits and evidence to substantiate the claims. This is not the first time Jean Mensa has faced a petition calling for her removal. In August 2020, she survived a petition by the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), which was dismissed by former President Akufo-Addo. The Presidency is yet to comment on the matter.

Story by Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy