Jean Mensa, EC Boss
A NON-GOVERNMENTAL Organization (NGO), ABANTU for Development and the Women’s Manifesto Coalition (WMC), have taken issues with persons who have been issuing death threats and insulting the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa.
According to the women groups, the numerous contemptuous verbal attacks and abuse on the EC Chairperson are revolting, horrendous, awful and the death threats – unacceptable.
The women have taken note of what they state as an increasing attack on women who take leadership positions in this country.
Ms. Mensa, since she embarked upon the assignment of compiling a new voters’ register, had come under a barrage of attacks by individuals—some politicians and even pastors, the women observed.
They recalled the self-styled ‘Apostle’ Kwabena Owusu Agyei, who made unsubstantiated allegations against the EC Chairperson and even pronounced death on her.
In a June 9, 2020 statement signed by Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, Executive Director, ABANTU for Development, ABANTU and the WMC noted that threats of harm and death contributed to the highest level of denial of human rights.
“We are deeply saddened that women in leadership positions have faced multiple insults and acts of degradation over the years while performing their assigned and constitutionally mandated duties. Nevertheless, they contributed in no small way in progressing the aspirations and motivations of so many other women and helped push the nation’s required mandate of promoting women in institutional arrangements for sustainable development,” it said.
The groups recognized the difficulties associated with serving in such a combative position as the Electoral Commissioner, trying to satisfy strong diverse political viewpoints in the hope of delivering universally acceptable democratic and electoral outcomes.
They therefore pledged to continue to stand behind Ms. Mensa and offer the needed support and defence for all women in national policy and decision-making spaces.
ABANTU for Development is a non-governmental organization which has the vision of a world where empowered women and men advocate collectively on gender inequalities through promoting transformational leadership and development for a just society.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema