Impeachment Of EC Boss: A Legal Adventure Or A Political Witch Hunt?

The Coalition of Democratic Governance (CDG), in July 2017 noted with dismay, as 17 unnamed staff of the Electoral Commission (EC) petitioned President Akufo Addo; requesting an impeachment process against the EC Boss-Mrs Charlotte Osei. Since then, the President has received three petitions.

One against the EC Boss, the second against the two Deputies of the EC, and the third against Gloria Akufo - the Chief Justice.

The CDG since the petitions, has been following the process with keen interest; often asking research questions and seeking answers;

1. is it likely that Nana Addo sent the first two petitions because he has personal interest in getting rid of Mrs Charlotte Osei? Why did he not send the third petition sent to him requesting the dismissal of Mrs Sophia Akufo, the Chief Justice?
2. is it likely he ignored the third petition because the Chief Justice is his relative?
3. is it likely that the top functionaries of the NPP, who kicked against the appointment of Mrs Osei are the same people initiating the impeachment ?
4. is it likely that the threat to remove Mrs Osei from office, issued by NPP functionaries last year is being progressively carried out?

Why is the process of impeachment shrouded in abnormal secrecy? Why are we dealing with 17 unnamed and faceless petitioners? If they exist, do they not have names? Why have the 17unnamed petitioners suddenly reduced to two? Why has Mrs Charlotte Osei still not received copies of the petition as well as the names and composition of the committee?. Is President Akufo Addo aware that Mrs Osei needs the document to enable her seek requisite legal advise.

Indeed there are more questions than answers and Ghanaians are looking for answers. Certainly the President could have ignored the first two petitions as he did to the third petition. Why did he not do that? According to former Presidential spokesperson, the late President Atta Mills received a petition in 2009, asking for the removal of the immediate past Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood but the late Prof Atta Mills ignored the petition, and would not interfere with the Judiciary since the Judiciary is an independent arm of State. If former President Kufour could work with Dr Afari Djan; if former Presidents- Mills and Mahama could work with Mrs Georgina Wood, why can’t Nana Addo work with Mrs Charlotte Osei?

It is no secret that many of the appointees in President Akufo Addo`s Government are his relatives. Relevant examples are the Chief Prosecutor (the Attorney General and Minister of Justice) and the Chief Justice. One prepares the prosecution document and the other judges. Mrs Charlotte Osei who is not a relative is seen by President Akufo Addo as a misplaced entity in his family business circus, and so has to be removed. To sustain and perpetuate the monarchical Democracy that Nana Addo has instituted and now set in motion, Mrs Charlotte Osei has to go.

For us in the CDG, the EC is a major independent institution of governance. Any attempt therefore by the Executive to usurp the independence and power of the EC destroys the basic pillar of our Democratic governance and must be challenged.

Dr. Kofi Hayfor
Chief Convener
CDG