The Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement-Ghana (PTAAM-Ghana), a civil society organization dedicated to promoting good governance and accountability, has submitted a formal petition to President John Dramani Mahama urging the removal of Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa and her deputies. The petition, dated January 8, 2025, alleges a profound erosion of public trust in the EC leadership due to a series of actions perceived as misconduct, mismanagement, and partisan bias, ultimately jeopardizing the integrity of Ghana’s electoral processes. PTAAM-Ghana argues that these actions have severely undermined public confidence in the EC’s ability to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections, a cornerstone of Ghana’s democratic foundation.
Central to PTAAM-Ghana’s petition is the accusation that the EC caused significant financial loss to the state by procuring a new biometric voter system and compiling a new voter register prior to the 2020 elections, despite the existing system being deemed fit for purpose by experts. This decision, according to the petitioners, represented a wasteful expenditure of public funds and raised questions about the EC’s motives. Furthermore, the petition highlights the EC’s handling of the 2020 presidential election results, which were revised five times, creating widespread confusion and fueling suspicions of manipulation to favor the incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo. This incident significantly damaged public trust in the impartiality and competence of the EC.
The petition also criticizes the EC’s decision to conduct a voter registration exercise during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that this action unnecessarily endangered the health of millions of Ghanaians. PTAAM-Ghana contends that the timing of the registration exercise was politically motivated and served to disenfranchise certain segments of the population. This act, along with the other alleged missteps, reinforces the perception that the EC is operating with a partisan agenda rather than upholding its constitutional mandate to ensure free and fair elections.
PTAAM-Ghana emphasizes the urgency of addressing these issues to restore public faith in Ghana’s electoral system. The petition argues that the removal of Mrs. Jean Mensa and her deputies is a necessary step to rebuild trust and ensure the impartiality and transparency of future elections. By holding the EC accountable for its actions, the petition aims to safeguard Ghana’s democratic integrity and prevent future electoral controversies that could destabilize the country.
The petition calls upon President Mahama to act decisively on the allegations presented and to initiate an investigation into the EC’s conduct. PTAAM-Ghana believes that a thorough and impartial investigation will reveal the full extent of the alleged misconduct and provide the basis for appropriate action. The organization further stresses the importance of establishing robust mechanisms to prevent similar occurrences in the future, ensuring that the EC operates with the highest levels of transparency and accountability.
In conclusion, PTAAM-Ghana’s petition to President Mahama represents a serious call for accountability within Ghana’s electoral system. The organization’s concerns regarding alleged misconduct, financial mismanagement, and partisan bias within the EC underscore the importance of upholding the principles of free, fair, and transparent elections. The petition serves as a reminder that public trust in electoral institutions is essential for a functioning democracy and that those responsible for compromising this trust must be held accountable. The future of Ghana’s democratic stability hinges on the government’s response to these allegations and its commitment to ensuring the integrity of its electoral processes.
