Why Jean Mensa Must Be Removed To Restore Trust In Ghana’s Electoral Commission

Ghana stands at a critical moment in its democratic journey. After years of institutional manipulation, political interference, and public mistrust, the nation finally reclaimed its voice in the 2024 elections. The people stood firm, especially in the Ashanti Region, rejecting attempts to influence the electoral process and choosing national integrity over partisan loyalty.

Today, as your administration works to rebuild confidence in state institutions, one decisive action remains necessary: the removal of Jean Mensa as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC). Before the 2020 elections, Ghana’s Electoral Commission was led by Charlotte Osei. Her removal was widely seen as politically motivated.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) accused her of being aligned with the NDC, accusations that were never proven, and used those claims to justify her dismissal. Her removal paved the way for the appointment of Jean Mensa, a figure with clear political ties to the NPP. Soon after, two additional NPP‑aligned individuals, including Dr. Bossman Asare, were appointed as Deputy Chairpersons.

This unprecedented partisan stacking of the EC leadership raised immediate concerns about neutrality, fairness, and the future of Ghana’s elections. During the same period, former President Akufo‑Addo appointed the highest number of Supreme Court judges in Ghana’s history. Many Ghanaians believed these appointments were strategically made to influence electoral disputes.

Indeed, several rulings during the 2020 election petition reinforced public fears that the judiciary had become an extension of the ruling party’s political machinery. The NPP’s governance record, marked by widespread corruption, money laundering allegations, collapsing state institutions, and reckless financial mismanagement, intensified public frustration.

The statement by former Energy Minister NAPO, claiming that “Ashantis don’t need development; they only need T‑shirts to vote,” deeply insulted the very region that had long been the party’s stronghold. In 2024, the Ashanti Region responded decisively. They refused to allow any manipulation of the electoral process, standing firm to protect the nation’s democracy.

Their vigilance and the effective security measures implemented by the NDC administration contributed significantly to your victory, Your Excellency, and to the restoration of hope across Ghana.

Throughout her tenure, Jean Mensa engaged in many instances of electoral misconduct. Allegations of electoral malpractice by her and the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) center on her tenure, particularly regarding the 2020 and 2024 elections include:

Manipulation of Results: Accusations include the false declaration of results and multiple revisions of the presidential tally in 2020, with critics claiming the final figures were adjusted to favor the incumbent.

Voter Disenfranchisement: Mensa faced severe criticism for the SALL controversy, where voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi districts were barred from voting, a move the government's own Attorney-General later admitted was an error.

Security Breaches and Violence: The 2020 elections were marred by violence resulting in seven deaths and armed invasions of collation centers. Critics allege the EC failed to secure polling stations and allowed partisan militias to operate.

Procedural Non-Compliance: Allegations cite violations of CI 127, including failing to paste pink sheets at all polling centers and delaying result declarations, which fueled public distrust.

Gross Incompetence: Critics point to the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election and the 2024 election delays, citing poor corporate governance, months-long failure to pay electoral officers, and the use of defective GhanaCard systems for voter registration.

In February 2026, the Chief Justice of Ghana dismissed seven petitions seeking Mensa's removal under Article 146 of the Constitution, ruling that they did not establish a prima facie case for removal despite the ongoing controversies. This development represents one of the most troubling missteps ever made by the judiciary.

Many Ghanaians believe that, considering the serious electoral controversies and irregularities associated with Jean Mensa’s tenure, she would have faced far stricter consequences in any country with a stronger and more independent judicial system. Her actions during critical national elections raised profound concerns about transparency, accountability, and respect for democratic processes, yet the institutions responsible for safeguarding justice failed to act decisively.

Why The NPP Wants Afi Agbenyo Removed, But Never Demanded Jean Mensa’s Removal

To many Ghanaians, the NPP’s sudden insistence that Emelia Affi Agbenyo must resign from her new role at the Electoral Commission exposes a deeper political motive. Throughout her tenure, Jean Mensa was widely perceived as serving the interests of the NPP. Her leadership at the EC aligned with the party’s political strategy, and her presence became an advantage they relied upon during previous elections.

Removing her would mean losing a key figure whose decisions consistently benefited their agenda. For this reason, the NPP never demanded her removal, despite the controversies, legal challenges, and public mistrust that surrounded her administration. In contrast, Affi Agbenyo’s appointment under President Mahama represents a shift away from the partisan influence that once dominated the Commission. Her presence threatens the long‑standing advantage the NPP enjoyed within the EC.

By calling for her resignation, the party seeks to preserve the conditions that previously enabled electoral manipulation and political control. Their selective outrage, targeting Agbenyo while defending Jean Mensa, reveals a clear intention to maintain influence over the institution that determines the outcome of national elections.

Why Jean Mensa Must Be Removed
Your Excellency, removing Jean Mensa is not an act of retaliation. It is a necessary step to protect the integrity of Ghana’s democracy. She presided over one of the most disputed elections in the country’s history, a period marked by confusion, conflicting figures, widespread public dissatisfaction, and deaths. Her leadership weakened trust in the Electoral Commission and contributed to national division and political tension.

Many Ghanaians rightly hold Akufo‑Addo, Mahamudu Bawumia, and several NPP politicians responsible for the severe economic and institutional decline witnessed over the past eight years. However, what many fail to acknowledge is that Jean Mensa also played a significant role in enabling this period of disastrous governance.

Through her actions at the Electoral Commission, she assisted, aided, and abetted the political misconduct that allowed the NPP to maintain power despite widespread public dissatisfaction. Her decisions during critical electoral moments contributed to the environment in which the party operated without accountability, ultimately deepening the national crisis.

Keeping her in office undermines the credibility of your newly appointed Deputy Chairpersons, who have been tasked with restoring impartiality and fairness. Jean Mensa’s continued presence symbolizes the partisan control that once overshadowed a sacred national institution. Ghana needs an Electoral Commission that is free from political contamination, past or present. Removing her would signal a renewed commitment to transparency, neutrality, and democratic integrity, ensuring that future elections are conducted without the shadow of political interference.

A Call To Protect Ghana’s Democracy

Your Excellency, the people of Ghana have spoken through their votes, their vigilance, and their determination to defend democracy. They stood against manipulation in 2024, and they expect your administration to complete the work of restoring integrity to the Electoral Commission. Removing Jean Mensa is not just a political decision; it is a moral obligation to safeguard Ghana’s future.

It is the final step needed to rebuild trust, strengthen democratic institutions, and ensure that no political party can ever again manipulate the electoral process. Many Ghanaians remember the promise you made to confront corruption decisively and ensure that those who embezzled state funds face justice. That commitment is long overdue.

The individuals responsible for the economic collapse, institutional decay, and financial misconduct continue to boast publicly that they committed no wrongdoing, insisting that government actions against them are driven by hatred rather than accountability. This false confidence exists only because they have not yet been held to account.

Beginning the process now is essential, not only to restore public trust, but to demonstrate that no one is above the law and that Ghana’s resources will never again be treated as personal property by those in power. Ghanaians are watching; they are hopeful and are ready for a new era of electoral transparency. Your leadership has already begun this transformation. Removing Jean Mensa will complete it.