Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie and jean mensa
An overwhelming number of Ghanaians have endorsed the dismissal of petitions by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to remove the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Ms. Jean Mensa and her two deputies.
A survey to gauge the opinion of Ghanaians on the subject posted some 70% of the thousands of the respondents saying that they supported the Chief Justice’s ruling not to remove the EC Chairperson and her two deputies based on the non-availability of prima facie case to warrant such a decision.
The ruling, the respondents said, is a right step in protecting the sanctity of the electoral process and ensuring fairness in the face of pressure.
The ruling, they added, also endorses the independence of the EC.
Political analysts following the ruling have opined that it is a signal to the confidence in the judiciary and the EC’s role in shaping the country’s democratic landscape.
The survey also shows that despite opposition from political factions, majority of Ghanaians believe the CJ made the right ruling in dismissing the petitions widely viewed as unsubstantiated and politically motivated.
The petitions were forwarded to the Chief Justice by President John Mahama in line with the relevant provision of the Constitution.
In a related development, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has expressed satisfaction with the dismissal of the petitions against the Special Prosecutor and officials of the EC, describing the outcome as a positive sign for Ghana’s democracy.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Braimah said the decision demonstrates the strength and independence of Ghana’s institutions.
“I think in a democracy, when you find that institutions are independent and strong, I think that is really helpful,” he added.
Mr. Braimah argued that the real test of institutional independence comes when due process does not favour the party in power.
“If we’ve gone through all this, and then the party comes to power, and the leadership of the party says these people must go, and then a process is rolled out, in the end, the Chief Justice says, well, nothing has been established, and the people stay in power,” he explained.
He pointed out that the Chief Justice was appointed under the same government, making the ruling even more significant in his view.