President Akufo-Addo is set to announce another woman as the new Chairperson of Electoral Commission next week as Madam Charlotte Osei’s replacement.
Charlotte Osei was Ghana’s first female Electoral Commissioner.
The President will later announce the names of the replacements for her two dismissed deputies; Georgina Amankwaa and Amadu Sulley.
President Akufo-Addo on Thursday night announced in a statement that he had removed the Electoral Commission chairperson, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwah following the receipt of a report from a committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, pursuant to Article 146(4) of the Constitution, to investigate separate complaints brought against her and her two deputies.
The Committee recommended their removal on the basis of stated misbehaviour and incompetence, pursuant to Article 146 (1) of the Constitution.
The president intended to fill the vacuum as preparation for the next election is set to commence soon and the Commission needs a leadership in place as soon as possible.
The EC is expected to also begin the process towards a referendum for the creation of new regions next year as well as the election of MMDCEs in 2019, to be followed by the ultimate 2020 elections.
According to sources close to the seat of government, say “the President doesn’t intend to look so much outside the current EC Team. But he is open to building consensus on the matter so things can change. What I can tell you on authority is that the president has said the position should go to a woman who qualifies if other stakeholders will agree with him, and so far he has support for that.”
Asked about the intense lobbying ongoing for the EC top job within government, our source said “it is normal, we are a government and lobbying is part of the system. People see opportunities and feel they are qualified, nothing wrong with that. But the president knows the decision is beyond his government alone. Didn’t you see how he selected Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor? Come on, the president understands consensus, you should know that by now”
Mrs Charlotte Osei had said she will speak up after the heat on the death of former Vice President Amissah-Arthur subsides.
Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin speaking to Citi News said: “I can assure you that as quickly as possible the president of the republic will make some announcement as to the replacement. I wouldn’t be able to say if it is going to be a day, two days or a week, but as quickly as possible, the president will make an announcement in this regard,”
