We’re Still Against Jean Mensa Despite Swearing-In – NDC

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has said it will not back down on its opposition to the appointment of Jean Adukwei Mensa as the new chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

This follows the swearing in of the former Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Jean Mensa, as new EC chair by President Akufo-Addo, together with two deputies, Samuel Tettey and Dr. Eric Asare Bossman and Ms. Adwoa Asuama Abrefa as a Member of the Commission.

The swearing in took place after the Supreme Court dismissed an injunction suit by a Ghanaian citizen, Fafali Nyonatorto, who sought to stop the President from continuing with the process of appointing a new Electoral Commission Chair.

The NDC threatened to stage a demonstration after Charlotte Osei was removed from office together with her two deputies on June 28 for stated misbehaviour and incompetence.

The demonstration was suspended following the demise of Former Vice President, Mr Amissah-Arthur.

National Organizer of the NDC, Kofi Adams told Citi News the party will continue to point out the flaws in the process.

“Everything is wrong about the nomination, the council of state approval of it and the swearing-in. As NDC and as a political party we will continue to rise to everything that is wrong about this process. Democracy does not end because we have sworn in, we will continue to raise the issue to let the whole world know the behaviour of President Akufo- Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP),” he said.

EC appointments regrettable – Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama in a tweet on Tuesday, July 24, described the nomination of four new officials to the Electoral Commission as a “regrettable” decision by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

According to Mr. Mahama, the controversy surrounding the removal of Mrs. Charlotte Osei and her deputies, and the subsequent appointment of Jean Mensa and other officials is a potential threat to Ghana's democratic credentials.

Jean Mensa is anti-NDC; Nana Addo abused his powers – NDC

The party in a statement said it was shocked by the nomination, given that President Nana Akufo-Addo had assured that persons to be nominated as EC officials would be persons “whose integrity and political neutrality would be above board.”

“For President Akufo –Addo to proceed contrary to his earlier assurance to appoint a known pro-NPP and on-avowed anti NDC person like Mrs. Jean Mensa to chair a commission which would organize elections invoking the NPP and NDC as the main contenders defies all series of decency, fairness and justice, and amounts to a gross abuse of the discretionary powers of appointment vested in him by the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement signed by the General Secretary of the NDC added.

The party said it will in due course provide details of what it calls “open and covert activities of Jean Mensa which makes her unfit to occupy the high position of Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the Republic of Ghana.”

Jean Mensah not in the good books of NDC
It must, however, be stated that Madam Jean Mensa has not been in the good books of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Prior to election 2016, the NDC, which was then the ruling government, boycotted the IEA's presidential debate, which meant that President John Dramani Mahama, who was the NDC's candidate, did not participate in the national debate.

Some NDC members who were officials of the government, including a deputy minister of communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, had described her as arrogant following her response to the concerns the NDC raised at the time over the debate.

“She absolutely has no right and her wings must be clipped by that organization if indeed they want to be taken seriously in this country. Political parties are not minor organizations neither are they school boys to be summoned by the IEA as and when it chooses to debate,” Kwakye Ofosu said.

Kwakye Ofosu said this after Jean Mensa insisted that the presidential and vice-presidential debates would go on with or without the National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s participation.