The Member of Parliament for Bekwai says the Electoral Commissioner Charlotte Osei undermined the constitution when she agreed to hold another public office in addition to her role as EC chair.
Joe Osei Owusu, says the EC chair, who is a lawyer, ought to have known that the position she was appointed to last year demanded that she resigned from all other office, public or private before accepting her new job.
If she did not, and held dual positions, she has not only undermined the constitution but breached the trust Ghanaians should have in her and in her position.
Pressure Group Progressive Nationalist Forum says it has evidence Charlotte Osei still holds on to her position as a member of the Board of Ghana Reinsurance Company even after she was appointed EC Chair.
Spokesperson of the Forum Richard Nyama said they have in their possession documents suggesting Charlotte Osei perfomed functions including traveling in her capacity as Member of the Board of the Company even after she was appointed and sworn-in as EC Chair, an act which contravened the law.
“The Chairman and the two Deputy Chairmen of the commission shall not, while they hold office on the Commission, hold any other public office.” Richard Nyama quoted Article 44 (4) of the 11992 Constitution as saying.
He said the EC chair should by 30th January, 2016 pay back all allowances received as board member of Ghana Reinsurance or her salary and entitlements as chairman of the commission, which ever option she chooses to exercise from 1st July, 2015 till date.”
Speaking on the matter to Joy News Editor Dzifa Bampoh, the Bekwai MP, Joe Osei Owusu may have sold her independence if it is proven she is still a member of the Board of the Ghana Reinsurance Company.
He argued due to the delicate role played by the EC Chair, the constitution stipulates that anybody holding that position must be independent of the executive or any other institution.
He said Charlotte Osei traded off the independence of the Commission when she remained a Board member of a company which is under the supervision of a minister of state or the president.
He said by that singular act, the trust people have in her can and should be questioned.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Reinsurance Company says the EC chair resigned her position by the end of December 2015.
In an interview on Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen the Company Secretary Jessica Allotey said Mrs Osei resigned after changing the fortunes of the company.
When the host of the programe KABA, reminded her that the name and details of the EC Chair were still on the company's website as Board member, the Company Secretary said it was an oversight.
Hours later the details of Charlotte Osei was removed from the website. The EC Chair was appointed in July 2015 to replace Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan who had gone on retirement.
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