A group calling itself the Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development (CDS) has petitioned the President not to initiate any processes to remove the EC chairperson and other commissioners.
This is in response to two petitions filed by a group known as the Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement Ghana and one Daniel Ofosu-Appiah requesting the removal of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, and her two deputies, Dr. Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey as well as one other member of the commission Dr. Peter Atuahene.
In what appears to be a counter-petition, the Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development is asking President John Mahama to reject the two petitions for the good of Ghana’s democracy.
The civil society organization urges the President not to repeat the happenings in 2017, where the EC Chairperson and her deputies were removed from office. According to the CDS, this was deemed to be politically motivated, and the same sentiments will be attached to any plans to remove the EC chairpersons.
“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 petition reads.
The organisation further grounded its request on the need for the president to uphold the independence of democratic institutions in Ghana.
“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.”
CDS argues that the president in heeding their request, will prevent erosion in the public trust of the Electoral Commission.
“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 Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development is of the opinion that any plans to dissolve the commission will create a precedent that makes the commission a mere extension of ruling governments, subject to change with every new administration.
The centre is thus urging the President not to consider the petitions seeking the removal of the EC chairpersons and commissioner to uphold the independence of the Electoral Commission and avoid setting a precedent that allows future governments to always dissolve the EC.
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