The Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development (CDS) has called on President John Mahama to reject recent petitions seeking the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, and her deputies.
This comes in response to two petitions filed by a group known as the Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement Ghana, and an individual, Daniel Ofosu-Appiah. The petitions request the dismissal of Jean Mensa, her two deputies—Dr. Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey—as well as another commissioner, Dr. Peter Atuahene.
In what appears to be a counter-petition, the CDS is urging the President to disregard these calls for the sake of Ghana’s democratic stability. The civil society organization warned against a repeat of the events of 2017, during which the then-EC Chairperson and her deputies were removed from office—an act widely perceived as politically motivated.
“Today, those calling for the removal of Jean Mensa and her team are drawing inspiration from that unfortunate precedent. If this cycle is allowed to continue, it will erode the foundations of Ghana’s Fourth Republic and threaten the independence of the Electoral Commission beyond repair,” the CDS stated in its petition.
The organization anchored its appeal on the critical need to uphold the independence of Ghana’s democratic institutions.
“Your Excellency, the fundamental principle that electoral commissions should be independent of political influence should outweigh all other considerations. If this administration dissolves the current Commission, future governments will feel emboldened to do the same, creating a dangerous cycle of political interference that could ultimately undermine Ghana’s hard-earned democratic stability.”
The CDS emphasized that honoring the current petitions could severely damage public trust in the Electoral Commission and transform it into a partisan institution, vulnerable to the influence of whichever party is in power.
The Centre maintained that any move to dissolve the current Commission would set a dangerous precedent, turning the EC into a mere extension of ruling governments, with its leadership subject to change with each new administration.
The CDS is therefore urging the President to firmly reject the petitions and reaffirm his commitment to protecting the independence of the Electoral Commission and preserving the integrity of Ghana’s democracy.
