A petition submitted to President John Dramani Mahama calling for the removal of Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa and her two deputies has been dismissed as incompetent by James Kwabena Bomfeh, former CPP General Secretary. The petition, filed by Ofosu-Appiah Daniel, cites several grounds for removal, including alleged breaches of fundamental human rights, incompetence, bias, and actions undermining public confidence in the Commission’s impartiality. Specifically, the petition points to the disenfranchisement of voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) areas during the 2020 parliamentary elections and the mismanagement of the 2020 elections overall.
The petitioner contends that the EC’s actions in the SALL area violated Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees the right to vote. The petition argues that by preventing the SALL residents from participating in the parliamentary elections for over four years, the EC deprived them of their constitutional right to representation. This disenfranchisement was particularly significant, the petition claims, because the 2020 parliamentary elections resulted in a hung parliament, and the SALL votes could have potentially swung the majority to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). This, according to the petitioner, suggests partisan bias and an attempt by the EC to manipulate the balance of power.
Furthermore, the petition highlights alleged incompetence in the management of the 2020 elections, citing errors in the presidential election results and accusations of partisanship against certain commissioners. The petitioner criticizes the EC’s decision-making, particularly referencing a last-minute announcement regarding the creation of the Guan District, which allegedly disrupted electoral arrangements. This, the petitioner argues, demonstrates poor planning and a lack of foresight.
However, James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly known as Kabilla, has vehemently rejected the petition, labeling it as incompetent. He argues that the grounds for removal presented by the petitioner lack merit. He questions the validity of a petition alleging incompetence while itself being incompetently drafted. He expressed doubt that any serious office would entertain such a petition.
Bomfeh also addressed comparisons being made to the 2018 dismissal of former EC Chairperson Charlotte Osei, which was based on findings of financial malfeasance. He emphasized that Osei’s removal stemmed from her own actions, specifically her invitation of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate internal EC matters. Bomfeh further opined that EOCO’s involvement was inappropriate, as they bypassed the Attorney-General’s office.
Regarding the SALL issue, Bomfeh refuted the claim of voter disenfranchisement. He argued that no constituency officially designated as SALL existed at the time of the 2020 elections, thereby questioning how voters from a non-existent constituency could have been prevented from voting. This point directly challenges the central argument of the petition regarding the disenfranchisement of SALL residents.
In summary, the petition submitted to President Mahama seeking the removal of the EC Chairperson and her deputies faces significant opposition. While the petitioner alleges constitutional breaches, incompetence, and partisan bias, particularly concerning the SALL area and the 2020 elections, these claims have been dismissed by Bomfeh as baseless and the petition itself labeled as incompetent. The debate surrounding the EC’s actions during the 2020 elections and the validity of the petition continues, leaving the future of the EC leadership uncertain.
