Mr.s Charlotte Osei and AFAG Veep(right) in an interaction with others shortly after the conference
Pressure group Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has called on President Akufo-Addo to ask the feuding commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC) to step aside, following the establishment of a prima facie case against them by the Chief Justice.
Mrs. Charlotte Osei, the EC chairperson, is still at post exercising the full powers of her office, although one of her deputies has been suspended over an issue unrelated to a petition sent to the president against Mrs Osei and her deputies.
AFAG however, believes that her continuous stay in office “will no doubt jeopardise any evidence which might be used against her as well as compromise any investigation instituted against her.”
Addressing the media in Accra on Thursday, AFAG Vice President, Henry Haruna Asante said, “The continuous presence of Mrs. Charlotte Osei intimidates witnesses who are still workers of the commission, and undermines the credibility of the EC and the principles of fair trial.”
He cited the prima facie case against Madam Loretta Lamptey, the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in 2015 – who was suspended by then President John Dramani Mahama – and Dr. Richard Anane, who stepped aside voluntarily for investigations into allegations against him to be carried out.
In January 2015, Madam Loretta Lamptey was suspended for professional misconduct when it was revealed that she spent GH¢180,000.00 to renovate her official residence; and similarly, Mrs. Charlotte Osei has suspended Mrs Georgina Opoku Amankwaah – Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Corporate Affairs – when an allegation was made against her (Amankwaah) that she had siphoned over GH¢480,000 from the EC workers’ Endowment Fund.
“AFAG, no doubt, sees these allegations as more serious in nature than that of Madam Lauretta Lamptey’s when then President Mahama decisively asked her to proceed on leave, yet Madam Charlotte Osei is still at post exercising the full powers of her office and jeopardizing any evidence, which might be used against her. We strongly hold the position that the outcome of whatever investigation that would be conducted could be compromised if she continues to remain in office.”
While reiterating the importance of the EC in maintaining peace and stability in the country, AFAG appealed to the president to take the honourable Executive step by asking Madam Charlotte Osei and her two deputy commissioners – Mrs Opoku Amankwaah and Amadu Sulley (in-charge of Operations) – to step aside and spare the EC from further damage of credibility.
By Solomon Ofori