TIG Post

Tag: Jean Mensa

  • EC to begin voter’s registration exercise on September 12

    EC to begin voter’s registration exercise on September 12

    The Electoral Commission has announced that it will commence the 2023 voter’s registration exercise on Tuesday, September 12, and end on Monday, October 2. 

    The exercise will be conducted, according to the Commission, at its district offices across the country.

    At a press conference titled “Let the Citizen Know” on Thursday, August 17, in Accra, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, announced this.

    However, she announced a GH¢10 charge for replacement of lost or misplaced voter’s ID card.

    “The voter’s registration exercise will afford Ghanaians who have attained the age of 18 years, since the last registration of 2020 and others who are more than 18 years, but for various reasons couldn’t register during the 2020 registration exercise.”

    “The EC will embark on voter’s registration in all 268 district offices of the Commission. The exercise will be held from September 12 to October 2,”she disclosed. 

    The District Level Assembly Elections will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, according to Jean Mensa.

    She stated that the elections would be held in all districts, with the exception of Nkoranza North and South in the Bono region, in all 6,272 electoral areas.

    According to Jean Mensa, elections will not be held in both districts until 2025.

  • EC sets December 19 for District Level Elections

    EC sets December 19 for District Level Elections

    Electoral Commission (EC) has scheduled Tuesday, December 19, 2023 as the date for the 2023 District Level Elections (DLE).  

    Assemblies will have to elect new members for the next four years because the terms of the current Assembly Members, who were elected in 2019, expire in December of this year.  

    EC Chairwoman Jean Mensa announced at a press conference in Accra on Thursday that new voters will be registered from September 12 to October 2, 2023 at its 268 district offices.

    The EC said it had targeted a 60 per cent voter turnout for this year’s DLE and appealed to the media to help create awareness and educate the public on the essence of the exercise.  

    With the exception of Nkoranza North and Nzoranka South in the Bono East Region, all 6,272 electoral areas would participate in the DLE, according to Mrs Mensa.  

    “This is because the district-level elections were not held in 2019 for the said districts due to security reasons but was postponed and conducted in April 2021.  

    “As such, the elections would not be held in both regions until 2025”, the Chairperson explained.  

    The Commission, according to Mrs Mensa, had created a comprehensive schedule of events for the upcoming DLE, which would be made public in due course.  

    She urged those who were eligible but not on the electoral roll to sign up during the upcoming registration drive in order to be able to cast a ballot in the elections on December 19.  

    Mrs. Mensa gave the assurance that there would be additional registration drives before the general election in 2024.  

    She mentioned that people who had misplaced their voter identification cards could get new ones at any District Registration Centre for GHC10.  

    “We state categorically that persons, who have lost their ID card do not need to register again. They simply have to request for a replacement of their cards,” Mrs Mensa said.  

    Mr Samuel Tettey, the Deputy Chairman of the EC in Charge of Operations, said the Commission would take steps to ensure high voter participation in the DLE.  

    “There will be stakeholder engagements with the civil society, security agencies, faith based organisations and a massive awareness in the media and public announcements by district electoral officers,” he said.  

    In the last District Level Elections in 2019, 57,000 candidates contested in the 6,700 electoral areas across the country.  

    Since the late 1980s, the DLE has recorded low voter turnout. According to the EC, in 1988/89, the National Average Voter Turnout at the DLE was 59.3 percent; in 1994, it was 29.3 percent; 1998, 41.6 percent; 2002, 33.1 percent; 2006, 39.3 percent; 2010, 35.5 percent; 2015, 30.6 percent, and 2019, 33 percent.

  • District level elections slated for Dec 19

    District level elections slated for Dec 19

    The district level elections will take place on December 19, 2023.

    This information was made known by the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, during a press conference in Accra on Thursday, August 17,

    The electoral event is set to encompass 6,252 electoral areas and span across 38,672 polling stations nationwide.

    Mensa conveyed her assurance that comprehensive information regarding the elections will be promptly disseminated to the public.

    In her statement, she urged eligible voters to capitalize on the opportunity for voter registration and enroll themselves for voting purposes.

    Madam Jean Mensa further appealed to the citizens to actively engage in the upcoming election asserting that this engagement stands as the most certain avenue for fostering local-level development.

    “We, as a commission, wholeheartedly encourage eligible voters to avail themselves of the voter registration process and complete their registration.

    “Additionally, we call upon the general populace to enthusiastically participate in the forthcoming district level elections, scheduled for December 19th. It is through such participation that we can collectively drive the progress and development of our local communities,” she expressed.

  • Petitioners for the removal of Jean Mensa, deputies retreat; this is why

    Petitioners for the removal of Jean Mensa, deputies retreat; this is why

    Some 46 Ghanaian citizens have retracted a petition submitted to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, requesting the removal of Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, as well as her deputies.

    According to a report by graphic.com.gh, the 46 citizens are part of the pressure group, #FixTheCountry.

    The report added that the group had sent in the petition to the president because they believed that the EC bosses played major roles in how the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe (SALL) were disenfranchised in terms of their representation in the Parliament of Ghana.

    However, the group decided to withdraw their petition following the adjournment of the case sine die by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

    “After nearly two years of waiting for institutional action on the impeachment petition brought against the chairperson and deputies of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, we the 46 petitioners formally notified the President and the Chief Justice of our intention to withdraw the petition,” they stated in a statement dated Friday, July 14, 2023, the report added.

    The group, in the statement, added that the refusal of the EC to act on the petition was due to a deliberate and collaborationist decision by the then Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah, in connivance with the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa.

    “We the petitioners, after 2 years of seeing various constitutional officers fail to live up to their constitutional responsibilities in this matter, have become convinced of a lack of interest or urgency in pursuing the justice of our plaint and have as such lost faith in the integrity of the process.

    “We feel compelled to exercise our democratic right to withdraw this petition, in order that the Constitution will no further be mocked by the indolence of actors who have been assigned the task of its protection. In reaching this decision, we have considered the best interest of our democracy, and taken further account of our refusal to lend ourselves to any process that will ultimately be used to whitewash clear evidence of egregious misconduct. In addition, we see no reason why we should participate in the persistence of what has so clearly become a charade,” the statement added.

    Of all the constituencies in the country, the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe (SALL) have been left without a representation in parliament.

    Although there have been several calls made for them to get representation, the matter has dragged, with no resolution arrived at yet.

  • EC fights for its reputation; says allegations of manipulation of figures must stop

    EC fights for its reputation; says allegations of manipulation of figures must stop

    The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, has stated that the recent by-elections at the Kumawu and Assin North constituencies should be a wakeup call on political parties to refrain from bastardising the election management body when polls do not go in their favour.

    She said the two by-elections clearly revealed the inherent transparency, robustness and integrity in the systems the commission put in place for the 2020 elections. 

    Jean Mensa, who made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, said though during general elections people did not have the opportunity to scrutinise the systems, it was better they concentrated on polling stations and appreciated the work of the EC. 

    “Just like the general election, everything was done at the polling station. So, those allegations that somebody sits at the EC headquarters in Accra to manipulate figures to favour one party over the others must end.” 

    “The credibility and transparency of the elections are in the full glare for all to see, including party agents,” she added. 

    Mrs Mensa said the Kumawu and Assin North polls were characterised by orderly conduct, early start in all polling stations and that by 7 a.m., all the polling stations were opened while polls were manned by competent and well-trained professional staff. 

    She added that the EC used its robust verification equipment to ensure that all voters were verified and that the efficiency of the Biometric Verification Devices (BVD) ensured swift verification of voters, which eliminated long queues.

    She added that by 1 p.m. on the voting day, most polling stations had recorded a 60 per cent turnout while collation processes were open, transparent and timely, saying that “all in all, the process was credible, fair and transparent”. 

    “Right from the setting up of the polling stations, arrangement of polling materials, voting, arrangement and counting of votes, as well as the declaration at the polling station, everything was in the full glare of the public, including observers. 

    “We call on the stakeholders, when it does not go in their favour, to accept the results and not bastardise the elections management body, because the processes are transparent and credible. 


    So if you win, you do that fair and square;ifyou lose, you do that fair and square,” she stressed. 

  • 2024 polls: Duffuor promises ‘real-time’ collation system

    2024 polls: Duffuor promises ‘real-time’ collation system

    Dr Kwabena Duffuor has promised to install a real-time vote compilation system for the National Democratic Congress in the 2024 elections so the party can monitor the results as they trickle in instantly.

    The former Bank of Ghana Governor, who is one of four flag bearer aspirants of the NDC, told journalists during his presidential declaration event that he intends to change the party’s vote-monitoring and results-compilation system during general elections.

    Asked how he plans to do that, the former finance minister said: “Real-time”.

    “You know real time?” he asked his questioners, explaining: “As you vote, we’ve a system that’ll pick it”.

    In December last year, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the then-general secretary of the party, who was aspiring to the national chair slot at the time, revealed to some party delegates in the Ashanti Region during his campaign for the internal polls that the biggest opposition party was unable to collate results in the 2020 polls because an IT system installed by the Chairman at the time, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who lost his re-election bid, crashed after just five regional results were entered into it for processing.

    In a leaked audiotape, Mr Nketia is heard telling his audience: “I totally understand if anyone says I’m partly to blame for the collation fiasco because all those people undertaking the process were reporting to me but the bit of it is that there were people tasked to do that job”.

    He continued: “Mr Ofosu-Ampofo’s so-called ‘robust’ and ‘strong’ IT system he had installed for the collation of results crashed after just five regional results were entered into it for processing”.

    “So, that is the truth of the matter”, Mr Nketia noted.

    Following the mishap, Mr Nketia said: “We then decided to manually collate the pink sheets”.

    Again, he said “the Chairman took over the whole process and brought in some university students to put some documents together”.

    However, he recalled: “When it was time for me to mount the dock, it was clear the results they gave me to back our case in court would have brought me nothing but shame and disgrace”.

    “We could not have gone to court with those documents as evidence”, he asserted.

    “We then carried those same documents to Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, the lawyer, for perusal.

    After studying the documents, he called us the following day to say if that was the evidence we were taking to court then he wouldn’t be part of the case and suggested we find a different lawyer to represent the party in court since there was no way he was going to be part of it”, Mr Nketia recounted.

    “That is why I told the court we didn’t bring any results when I was asked to produce the evidence”, Mr Nketia explained to his audience.

    The Supreme Court, eventually, threw out the petition and upheld the results declared by Electoral Commission Chair Jean Mensa.

    Mr Nketia promised that should he become the next chairman of the NDC, “I intend to make sure this collation fiasco never happens again”.

  • Stop fueling mistrust against EC – Majority cautions Minority

    Stop fueling mistrust against EC – Majority cautions Minority

    Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has accused the Minority in Parliament of fueling mistrust against the Electoral Commission.

    This comes after the Minority rejected the justifications given by the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) for the new CI seeking to make Ghana card the only identification for voter registration.

    Chairperson for the EC Jean Mensa on Tuesday February 28 2023 told Parliament the new CI is to safeguard the sanctity of the electoral process devoid of foreign interference.

    Mrs. Jean Mensa also justified the scrapping of the guarantor system. When questioned about the existence of the same system for Ghana card registration, the EC boss argued that system is more robust.

    Addressing the media, Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson asked the EC to adopt the NIA system following the claim of the chairperson.

    “We are quite sure many of you followed and reported on events in the Chamber last night, which showcased our opposition to an attempt by the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission to introduce a Constitutional Instrument before Parliament. The said C.I, the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Instrument, 2022, seeks to make the Ghana Card the sole document for the registration of voters onto Ghana’s electoral roll.

    “What Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution requires, is evidence of citizenship and not evidence or proof of identification. Any evidence of citizenship should therefore qualify a person to be registered. That is why under the current C.I 91 as amended by C.I 126, Ghanaian Passports and guarantor system are allowed as evidence of citizenship,” Mr. Forson stated.

    He continued: “Clearly, the proposed C.I which makes the Ghana Card the sole requirement for voter registration serves as a restraint on citizen’s right to register and exercise their franchise in elections. It is important to remind the Electoral Commission headed by Madam Jean Mensah that the Commission is enjoined by the constitution to advance the right to vote and not introduce any law that seeks to curtail same.”

    Chairman for Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Dr. Dominic Ayine argued there is not need for a new CI since the existing one used for the 2020 registration is still very potent.

    Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga berated majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for arguing nobody can stop government business such as the laying of the CI from taking place. He questioned why EC business has become government business

    Bolgatanga Central MP Isaac Adongo asked the EC to first wait for the NIA to issue cards to every qualified Ghanaian before tabling the idea of a new CI.

  • Ghana Card will not be used as voter’s ID – EC clarifies

    Ghana Card will not be used as voter’s ID – EC clarifies

    Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa, has confirmed that the Ghana Card will not be used as a voter ID in the upcoming December 2024 election.

    Her statement comes in response to speculation, particularly from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that the Commission planned to use the Ghana Card for the elections.

    “The Ghana Card will not be used for voting in 2024; it will be used to register,” she emphasised.

    Mensa made the assertion while responding to questions on the floor of Parliament on February 28, 2023. She had been summoned by the Speaker to appear before the House to discuss the proposed Constitutional Instrument (C.I) that seeks to make the Ghana Card the sole document for registration in the Continuous Voters Registration exercise.

    Justifying the draft CI, Mensa said it aims to “promote the continuous registration of voters and advocate for an all-year-round registration of eligible voters at the district offices of the Electoral Commission.”

    She further explained that this is a departure from the previous system, where the Voters Registration was done for a limited period.

    “Under [the old system], registration of new voters was only conducted for a limited period and not all year round.

    As such, persons who turned 18 years old after the registration period, as well as persons who had not previously registered to vote, could not do so when the time set aside for registration elapsed,” she argued.

    She noted that under the new C.I, anyone who is eligible to vote can simply walk into any of the EC district offices and register. “Potential voters can register at any time of the year once the exercise begins,” she stressed.

    Another significant feature of this draft constitutional instrument, according to the EC, is the proposal to adopt the Ghana Card as the sole source of identification for any person who wishes to register to vote.

    Mensa clarified that the guarantor system, which is fraught with various challenges, will no longer be used in the registration exercise.

    “The use of only Ghana Card will ensure and guarantee the credibility of the register and elections, prevent enrolment of minors, prevent foreigners from voting, and eliminate the
    guarantor system, which is prone to abuse,” she emphasized.

    “This will reduce the usual pressure at registration centers, thereby reducing the likelihood of conflicts whatsoever. It will prevent minors and foreigners from voting and will take away the guarantor system,” she added.

    The draft constitutional instrument, entitled Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2021, has received mixed reactions.

    While some, particularly the Minority in Parliament, have vehemently contested it, the EC stands by it as the best option for the country, particularly the part that intends to make the Ghana Card the only form of identification for eligible voters who want to register to vote on the national register.

    Also, with the assurance given by the National Identification Authority to the effect that all outstanding Ghana cards will be cleared by August, she is optimistic that there will be no or less challenges with the exercise.

  • Ghana Card will not be used as voter’s ID – EC clarifies

    Ghana Card will not be used as voter’s ID – EC clarifies

    Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa has revealed that the Ghana Card will not be a requirement in the casting of votes in the 2024 General Elections.

    However, she said that the Ghana Card will be the sole identity document to be used in the voter’s registration process in the acquisition of new Voters’ IDs if the new constitutional instrument is passed.

    “Mr. Speaker, I wish to emphasize that the Ghana card will not be used to vote in the 2024 elections, the Ghana Card is only a requirement to register as a voter,” she said in Parliament.

    The EC boss said this on Tuesday, February 28 2023 when she was invited to parliament to brief the House on the controversial new CI proposal.

    “Once you present your Ghana card and successfully register as a voter, you will be issued with a voter’s identification card which bears the code of your region, your district, your electoral area, and the name of your polling station, the Ghana card does not have these features and therefore it will not be used to vote in the 2024 general elections,” she indicated.

    This, she explained, will prevent non-citizens and minors from clandestinely going through the registration process.

    According to her, the guarantor system that was previously used has been abused making it extremely easy for non-citizens and minors to be guaranteed by guarantors.

  • Jean Mensa pulls up in parliament

    Jean Mensa pulls up in parliament

    Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, surprisingly pulled up in Parliament today, February 29, 2023.

    She was out of town as part of external observers in the ongoing Nigerian Elections.

    Prior to Tuesday’s appearance, the Speaker of Parliament had asked the Jean Mensa to appear before the committee of the whole to discuss the Draft Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2023, and the status of the ECOWAS Identification Card (Ghana Card) Registration.

    Due to her engagements in Nigeria, she failed to make it to the first meeting her outfit held with the committee, which included the National Identification Authority (NIA), and the EC.

    The newly proposed instrument by the EC will make the Ghana Card the only identification document to be used to guarantee citizenship when passed.

    On Thursday, the special budget report on the Electoral Commission’s C.I. was laid on the floor of parliament for the house to commence debate on the issue.

    During the debate, the Chairperson of the Commission was absent but was represented by the deputy commissioner, Dr. Bossman Asare.

    However, the Speaker directed that the Chairperson herself appear before the house after the minority raised concerns over her absence.

      The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson believed that Jean Mensa was to be in the house to give the needed assurance that the new CI before parliament will not disenfranchise Ghanaians among others.

    “Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission is not here. I recognise Mr. Speaker, that the Deputy is here, but it is not the same as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission. As we speak, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission has consistently avoided parliament.

    “We are of the view that we have raised today in this chamber since morning, as serious issues that we prefer and will want the Electoral Commissioner to be here to give us the needed assurances,” Dr. Ato Forson said.

    Based on this argument, the Speaker said that the Chairperson herself needed to appear before the house to clarify some of the concerns that have been raised.

  • Obiri Boahen slams Mahama for rating Nigeria’s INEC over EC

    Obiri Boahen slams Mahama for rating Nigeria’s INEC over EC

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has been criticised for rating Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) above Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC).

    According to General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen time has proven the former president wrong in his assertion and thus, he described Mr Mahama’s claims as “ridiculous and so childish”.

    He noted that Mr Mahama’s problem with the EC has to do with the sacking of the former chairperson, Madam Charlotte Osei.

    “On the very day Charlotte Osei was sacked as EC boss, he refused to have faith in the commission.”

    “If it isn’t NDC that would direct our elections, he doesn’t have faith in it. He wants to say if it isn’t Charlotte Osei or Afari Gyan, then he considers all other persons to come from Satan”, he said in an interview on pro-NPP Wontumi Radio on Monday February 27, 2023.

    Former President Mahama on the eve of Nigeria’s presidential elections held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, called out the EC led by Jean Adukwei Mensa for failing to inspire confidence.

    According to him, the posture of the Electoral Commission unlike the INEC which has gained the confidence of Nigeria’s electoral stakeholders has rather been hostile towards his party, the National Democratic Congress.

    “One thing that has struck me in my pre-election mission in Nigeria for the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) is the confidence all the candidates and parties have expressed in the Independent Electoral Commission.

    “They all testify that INEC has listened and taken their concerns on board.

    “Unfortunately, I can’t say same for my Electoral Commission (EC), which was once among the best election management agencies in the world.

    “The hostility of the Chairperson of the EC and her other Commissioners to one political party is legendary. How I wish our own EC can inspire the same level of confidence in all its stakeholders,” Mr Mahama said.

    Despite his wish, Mr Mahama said he shares no hope of the situation in Ghana getting any better.

    “Regrettably, I am not hopeful this will happen when we have an EC that has blatantly spurned all efforts by the National Peace Council to host a meeting between the Commission and the two major political parties, the NDC and NPP,” the former president said.

  • Minority to haul EC chair to Parliament

    Minority to haul EC chair to Parliament

    The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Jean Mensa will be hauled before Parliament’s Privileges Committee if she fails to appear before the House as directed by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin last week.

    Mr. Bagbin requested the presence of Mrs Mensa at the insistence of the Minority Caucus who say they are opposed to the Constitutional Instrument (CI) currently before the House that seeks to make the Ghana Card, the sole document for voter registration.

    The NDC MPs said the EC’s Chairperson does not have respect for Parliament, hence her refusal to be present in the House to answer questions on the CI.

    However, the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, has debunked the assertion.

    According to the Commission, the Chairperson had been invited for an election observer mission in Nigeria, therefore her two deputies had to represent her in Parliament.

    The statement added that “For the attention of the General Public, the EC received a letter from Parliament on Wednesday 22nd February 2023 inviting the Commission to brief the leadership of the House on the draft Cl on the registration of voters on Thursday 23rd February 2024”.

    However reacting to the news that the EC Chairperson is not within the jurisdiction and may not be able to appear before the House, a ranking member on the Interior and Defense Committee of Parliament Mr James Agalga, indicated that the action of Jean Mensa is contemptuous.

    “We have a Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and we are talking about very serious matters affecting the integrity of the compilation of the voters register that is very crucial. And so for the head of that body not to turn up before Parliament without first all to giving us a reasonable excuse as to why she wouldn’t attend, raises serious questions. The counterpart of the EC, in this case, the NIA was represented by its boss so why do you think that we should tolerate the EC?

    “And we are saying that Jean Mensa has been very consistent in not turning up or responding to invitations from the House. She is the person who bears ultimate responsibility and so we require her personal attendance before the House so that whatever assurances are given will come from her own mouth,” he said.

    On the question of what may happen if the EC Boss doesn’t appear, Mr Agalga told host of JoyNews’ The Pulse Blessed Sogah that “you cannot treat Parliament like that. Parliament represents, if you like, the soul of our democratic experiment, the people’s representatives.

    “I have indicated to you that her continuous absence is contemptuous. First of all, the assurance has been given that she would appear. If she doesn’t, seriously speaking, we will escalate our actions to include the referral of Jean Mensa to the Privileges Committee to be dealt with for contempt of Parliament.”

  • Ensure fairness in 2024 general elections – NDC to EC

    Ensure fairness in 2024 general elections – NDC to EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) chair, Jean Mensa, has received a severe warning from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the North to ensure fairness in the 2024 general elections.

    The EC has stated that it’s taking steps to make the Ghana card the only document for registration.

    But the party says the steps taken by the EC chair are a recipe for chaos and has thus served notice that the party will not tolerate it.

    These comments were made at Yendi in the Northern region by the Regional Organiser of the party, Abdallah Baba Zee, when the party embarked on a health walk in the Yendi constituency.

    “We the NDC are sending a word of caution to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission to be very careful about the steps she is taking. The EC is seeking to use the Ghana Card as the only document for the limited registration. The constituency center is the only place for registration. We are sending a strong warning to the EC chair that we will not sit down for such to happen. It has the potential of disenfranchising many Ghanaians, and we will not accept it,” Abdallah Baba Zee said.

    Three people have picked nomination forms to contest for the primaries of the NDC in the Yendi constituency.

    The Regional Organiser commended the Regional Chairmen and the 137 MPs who supported former President John Dramani Mahama in the picking of nominations.

    He however admonished the constituency executives for purpose of unity in the party not to openly support any of the aspirants and also urge the aspirants to be decorous in their campaign messages.

    “I want to admonish the constituency executives here in Yendi not to openly throw their support for any of the aspirants as this could affect the unity in the party. Again to the aspirants, I want to caution that as you go about your campaign, please be mindful of your language. This is an internal election, and we will surely need one another in the general elections. Let’s use language that is not divisive but preach peace and unity,” he said.

    The Constituency Communications Officer for NDC in the Yendi constituency, Adam Halid, said the health walk is to re-energize the base of the party for 2024.

    He said the party is poised to win the Yendi seat for the NDC and slammed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for its woeful performance.

    “We are re-energizing the party to get ready for 2024. We are very poised to win the seat. The NPP has woefully failed the good people of Yendi. The president himself came and took the Overlord of Dagbon Yaa Naa to the Dagbon state senior high school to cut the sod for the Yendi water project, for three years now, nothing is happening,” he said.

    On his part, Fataw Osman Jofa who is in the race again preached peace and unity among the aspirants.

    He promised to fix the Yendi water project within six months if he wins.

    “I want to call on my brothers who have also picked nomination forms to please let there be peace and unity among us. Our biggest concern is to win the seat from the incompetent government of the NPP.

    “I want to say that the president has failed the good people of Yendi because the former President John Dramani Mahama was almost done with the documents of the Yendi water project and this president has failed to deliver. He cut the sod on three different occasions but nothing is being done. When I get the chance, I want to assure the good people of Yendi that within six months we will fix the water challenges,” he said.

  • Invitation was sent late, Jean Mensa didn’t violate Parliament’s order – EC

    Invitation was sent late, Jean Mensa didn’t violate Parliament’s order – EC

    The Election Commission (EC) has debunked reports that its Chairperson, Jean Mensa, rejected Parliament’s invitation.

    The EC disclosed in a statement that the letter inviting the Chairperson to brief Parliament on the draft CI on the registration of voters was received a day prior to the scheduled briefing when Jean Mensa was already out of the jurisdiction.

    “The Commission especially its Chairperson understands the importance of the institution of Parliament having worked with Parliament for two decades prior to her appointment as Chairperson of the EC. The Chairperson upholds the institution of Parliament and will therefore not disrespect it in any way.

    “The fact remains that the invitation from Parliament was sent a day before the meeting, at a time when the Chairperson was out of the jurisdiction. Had she been aware of the request prior to her travel, she certainly would have prioritized the meeting and attended upon the Honourable House.”

    The EC added that the Chairperson, Jean Mensa, is yet to return to Ghana contrary to reports that she had returned from her trip to Nigeria.

  • What Ghana’s EC chair, Jean Mensa, said about Nigeria’s elections

    What Ghana’s EC chair, Jean Mensa, said about Nigeria’s elections

    The Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensa, has expressed optimism that the Nigerian election on Saturday, February 25, 2023, will be credible, transparent, free, and fair.

    In an interview with GBC News Correspondent Edward Nyarko, Mrs. Mensa said her engagement with the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria indicates that all stakeholders are prepared to ensure the elections turn out to be one of the best in Nigeria’s history.

    Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, will hold presidential elections on Febuary 25, 2023 amid growing dissatisfaction in the nation due to deteriorating security and economic hardship. Would any of the front-runners, the majority of whom have spent decades in politics, be able to change the course of the nation?

    Muhammadu Buhari, the outgoing president of Nigeria, is leaving office after nearly eight years in charge amid instability and intense agitation, as many people are unable to access the money they require to purchase food due to a bungled roll-out of new banknotes.

    But the cash crisis is not the only problem Nigerians face, with the last year being marked by struggle and tragedy, including high inflation and deadly attacks by gunmen against innocent civilians.

    Mr Buhari’s supporters say he has done his best and highlight achievements, such as his work on infrastructure projects and attempts to combat violent extremism. But even his own wife, Aisha Buhari, has apologised to the Nigerian people for falling short of their expectations.

  • We have paid all staff who worked during 2020 elections – EC

    We have paid all staff who worked during 2020 elections – EC

    The Election Commission has refuted claims that around 200,000 field workers for the 2020 elections were not paid.

    In a statement, the EC described the reports as false and an attempt to malign and impugn the integrity of the commission.

    “The EC has to date paid all staff who worked during the 2020 elections. For the records the EC in a bid to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, instituted a system whereby field staff were paid through their bank accounts.”

    The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu first made the allegation on the Floor of Parliament on Thursday, February 23, 2023.

    “Minister of Finance, the Electoral Commission hasn’t even paid the members it used for the 2020 elections. Go and do what is right for them to pay them,” the former Minority Leader said.

    But according to the EC, any person or groups of persons claiming non-payment by the Commission for work done during the 2020 elections do not exist.

    Attached is the full statement

  • FLASHBACK: Five things Akufo-Addo must do for aviation sector

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was tasked by the aviation sector to see that a number of reforms are implemented.

    The industry made the following demands:

    CAA & Airports Company is in trouble.

    Ghana Airways New

    The Kotoka Airport’s US$150 COVID-19 test fee is being reviewed.

    Investing in the AIB

    completion of ongoing projects at airports

    Having been declared victorious in the December 7 presidential elections by the Electoral Commission chair, Jean Mensa, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, working through his appointees, must now tackle key issues in the aviation sector if the full benefits of air transport are to be realized in the next four years.

    Undoubtedly, the re-setting up of the Ministry of Aviation which had been treated as an appendage of the Ministry of Transport as a stand-alone ministry has served the industry well. That decision and the ensuring appropriate budget allocation to the Ministry, has led to the mainstreaming of the sector.

    In 2018, the aviation sector contributed US$ 2.5 billion to the country’s GDP. That notwithstanding, the following are the key issues that beg the attention of the President-elect:

    Struggling CAA & Airports Company

    The current pandemic has revealed in all it starkness the lack of financial buffer for the Ghana Airports Company Limited. The state-owned limited liability company has had to turn to central government for financial assistance to be able to pay salaries due to the massive drop in its aeronautical revenue—Airport Passenger Service Tax, aircraft parking fees etc.

    The COVID-19 induced closure of the Kotoka International Airport for scheduled flights from March to September led to a drop of about 80 percent of GACL’s revenue within the period. Since the re-opening of the airport for international flights on September 1, airlines servicing the KIA have recorded low passenger throughput, with load factor ranging between 50-70 percent. Daily pre-COVID-19 frequencies have now been reduced mostly from 7x per week to 4x per week. It is now clear that the GACL must be assisted to scale up non-aeronautical revenue while the state may possibly look at increasing its working capital.

    The aviation sector regulator, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), has also seen its major income source severely impacted by the pandemic. It has also received assistance from central government to help with its overheads. However, the financial challenge it faces now needs to be addressed.

    New ‘Ghana Airways

    It has been the aspiration of successive governments to re-establish a home-based carrier that would once again fly the Ghanaian flag and give impetus to the aviation hub dream. Initial attempts at partnering some major international airlines did not work out. Currently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with EgyptAir to work with the Cairo-based airline in establishing the new airline. The immediate task at hand is to finalise the various shareholders agreements, approval by Cabinet and submission of the agreement to Parliament for scrutiny and approval before the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic is dissolved in days.

    Review of US$150 COVID-19 test charge at Kotoka Airport

    Though the antigen test currently carried out on in-bound passengers has helped to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country, it has greatly increased the cost of travel. As we approach the festive season, a lot more Ghanaians living abroad are expected to return home for Christmas. Though the GACL recently waived the cost for children aged 5-12years, there have still been calls for a reduction in the cost. Indeed, organisations such as the Consumer Protection Agency, Ghana Tourism Federation have made several calls for a review to no avail.

    A review of the relatively expensive cost of the test should merit attention.

    Resourcing the AIB

    The work of the Accident Investigation Bureau will be imperative in reducing the annual accident costs attributed to general aviation in Ghana and the West Africa sub-region.

    In recent times there have been major initiatives, such as infrastructural projects and systems enhancements, which combined with this legislation are gradually positioning the country at the heart of civil aviation in the sub-region.

    The setting up of the bureau is also in readiness for Ghana’s upcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit in 2021. However, the AIB must be well-resourced to efficiently carry out its mandate.

    Completion of on-going airport projects

    Completion of the Kumasi, Sunyani, Tamale and Cape Coast airports would be keenly awaited by residents, traders and hospitality industry players. Though works on Kumasi and Sunyani airports are nearing completion, it must be completed on time to open up these two main mid-Ghana cities. Tamale and Cape Coast airports should not escape attention.

  • EC cancels 17 political party certificates

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana has cancelled the certificates of 17 political parties who have no regional and national presence and, therefore, are flouting the laws.

    The EC in October gave the parties to the end of that month to prove why their registrations should not be cancelled under the Political Parties Act of 2000, Act 574.

    After the expiration of the deadline a notice signed and issued by the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa and published today, November 14, 2022, stated “Pursuant to the publication by the Electoral Commission dated 13th & 17th October 2022, the General Public is hereby informed that the Registration Certificates of the under-listed Political Parties have been cancelled in accordance with Section 15 (3) (c) of the Political Parties Law, 2000 (Act 574) effective the 1st day of November, 2022.”

    Below are the parties:

    Democratic People’s Party (DPP) United Front Party (UFP) United Development System Party (UDSP) Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) Yes People’s Party (YPP) United Ghana Movement (UGM) Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) New Vision Party (NVP) Ghana Democratic Republican Party (GDRP) Ghana National Party (GNP) Power Unity Party (PUP) United Progressive Party (UPP) Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD) People’s Action Party (PAP) United Renaissance Party (URP) National Reform Party (NRP) United Love Party (ULP)

     

  • Mahama explains why NDC could not submit pink sheets in the 2020 election petition

    For the first time, former President John Dramani Mahama has opened up about why he and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) could not provide the needed evidence to make their case in the 2020 election petition.

    On December 30, 2022, the former president dragged the Electoral Commission led by Jean Mensa (1st Respondent) and Akufo-Addo (2nd Respondent) to the apex court over the 2020 presidential elections on an allegation that the results announced by the EC were not the accurate results.

    The petition details “serious violations of the 1992 Constitution by the Electoral Commission and its Chairperson and Returning Officer for the Presidential Election, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa in the conduct of their constitutional and legal responsibility.”

    The petitioner sought, among others, a declaration from the Supreme Court to the effect that “the purported declaration of the results of the 2020 Presidential Election on December 9 2020, is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

    But the seven-member panel of the Supreme Court on March 4, 2021, held that the petition filed by former President John Dramani Mahama was unmeritorious and unanimously dismissed all other applications moved by the petitioner, including two reviews.

    Speaking in a VOA interview monitored by GhanaWeb, John Dramani Mahama intimated that NDC could not make its case because the pink sheets used by the EC to record the election results did not make room for the people to be verified before they could vote.

    “In the last elections, a lot of things went wrong. On the pink sheets that we record the results, they did not make allowance for the number of people biometrically registered.

    “And that is why when we went to court, and they said, why don’t you bring your pink sheet? It would have been useless because you bring the pink sheet, and there is no recording of the number of people verified.

    “It is only when you have that recording which must match up with the number of ballots in the box (that you can make a case). And so, if the Electoral Commission gives you a form that does not make provision for the people verified then what is the need for us to put our figures in the verification machine,” he said.

    The former president further stated that most of the challenges in the 2020 elections have still not been resolved.

    He added that the NDC has taken a cue from what happened in the 2020 election and has decided to go into the next election with its “own referrer”.

     

  • CHRAJ should have declared Chief Justice, EC boss unfit for office – Manasseh Azure

    Renowned investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has berated the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for not adequately performing its mandate.

    According to him, CHRAJ, even though has been given the powers by Ghana’s Constitution to hold persons in public office accountable, it has on some occasions failed the country.

    Speaking at a Public Forum on the declaration of assets in Accra, Manasseh said that the failure of CHRAJ to declare that Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah and the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, unfit for office after it received complaints about their asset declaration, is the reason the two are in office today.

    “When we talk about leadership; we shouldn’t limit it to only political leadership. There are certain individuals in this country who are very powerful and the constitution has made them so. But they have decided to become very powerless. And they have failed the state when it matters most, one of them is CHRAJ.

    “CHRAJ has done well in some of the cases that have gone before it. But in others, CHRAJ failed the nation.

    “One of them has to do with the complaints against the Chief Justice. CHRAJ ruled that the PPA board chair cannot hold public office for 2 years because he failed to declare his assets. Similar complaints come against the Chief Justice and also the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission but CHRAJ’s rulings were very problematic.

    “I don’t think that we will be having some of these names if the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana was declared unfit to hold public office by CHRAJ,” he said.

    He intimated that should CHRAJ have ruled that the current Chief Justice is unfit for office and President Akufo-Addo chooses to ignore its ruling, the pressure on him will force him not to take the position.

    “A similar thing happened with the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and we didn’t find CHRAG having the balls to make the right pronouncement,” he added.

    The forum was organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa on Tuesday, October 2, 2022.

  • Supreme Court throws out Mahama’s request to cross-examine Jean Mensa

    Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission will not undergo cross-examination, the Supreme Court has ruled.

    The court after listening and weighing the submissions of the counsels for the petitioner and first and second respondents has declared that Jean Mensa and McManu cannot be compelled to testify.

    Delivering the judgment, Chief Justice Anin Yeboah submitted that the court has not been convinced by the argument from the lawyer of the petitioner and will be setting a bad precedent if it grants the wish of the petitioner.

    “We are reminded to state that our jurisdiction invoked in this election petition is limited jurisdiction clearly circumscribed by law. We do not intend to extend our mandate beyond what the law requires of us in such petitions brought under article 67 clause 1. Simply put, We are not convinced and will not yield to the invitation being extended to us by the counsel for the petitioner to order the respondents to enter the witness box in order to be cross-examined.

    “Accordingly, we hereby overrule the objection raised by the counsel for the petitioner against the decision of the respondents declining to adduce testimonies in this petition”, the Chief Justice said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Supreme Court to rule on Jean Mensa cross-examination today

    The Supreme Court will be delivering its ruling on whether or not the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, should mount the witness box to be cross-examined in the ongoing election petition hearing.

    During proceedings on Tuesday, February 9, lawyers for the 1st and 2nd respondents, Justin Amenuvor and Akoto Ampaw respectively, told the Court that the petitioner cannot compel them to elect witnesses to appear in the witness box.

    During legal arguments on a move by the respondents not to testify in the case, Mr Akoto Ampaw told the Court: “The petitioner cannot compel us to enter the witness box to adduce evidence.”

    He added: “The petitioner has adduced evidence and closed his case. We have taken the position that in our assessment, they have not discharged the burden of proof and the burden of producing evidence and, therefore, we will not give further evidence and the Court will determine the case on the evidence before it

    Lawyers for the two respondents on Monday, February 8 moved to close their cases without their witnesses being cross-examined.

    This was after Counsel for the petitioner Tsatsu Tsikata closed his case.

    Mr Tsikata, for his part, told the court that the chair of the 1st Respondent, Jean Mensa, cannot skip cross-examination.

    He argued that by filing a witness statement, the 1st Respondent has opened her up for cross-examination.

    “It is our respectful submission that by filing its witness statement the first respondent has clearly crossed the bridge as far as opening the witness up for cross-examination is concerned. That bridge has been crossed, the ship has already been sailed,” Tsatsu said in his argument to the bench.

    Asked by one of the justices, Professor Nii Ashie Quartey, whether or not Jean Mensa cannot change her mind to testify, Tsatsu answered “The court has the power to disallow that change of mind.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Afari Gyan mounted the witness box – Jean Mensa told

    The Supreme Court will today give its ruling on whether or not Madam Jean Mensa will be cross-examined.

    The issue of the EC chair mounting the witness box has become a topical one especially between the two main political parties in the country: the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    The NDC says if “indeed the EC chairperson has nothing to hide, she should be willing to mount the witness box”.

    The NPP, on the other hand, insists Madam Jean Mensa can’t be forced into the witness box and that the burden of proof lies on the shoulders of the petitioner, former President John Mahama, and his legal team.

    Kojo Danquah a member of the Communication team of the NDC gave his views on the matter in the video below while speaking on Neat FM.

    Source: Peace FM

  • NDC files election petition today

    Barring any last minute changes, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will today file a petition against the 2020 Presidential result declared by the Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday, December 9.

    The Herald is informed that the party’s lawyers led by Tsatsu Tsikata, will be focusing on the Chairperson of the Commission, Jean Mensa to justify the numbers and percentages she mentioned, as having been obtained by the various Presidential candidates.

    This is not to overturn the Presidential results as declared but to establish the actual votes obtained by the two frontrunners in the election; Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and John Dramani Mahama of the NDC.

    After the filing, Mr Mahama will address a press conference at a location yet to be announced.

    The NDC Legal team is made up of Tsatsu Tsikata, Nana Ato Dadzie, Fui Tsikata, Dominic Ayeni, Tony Lithur, Dr. Bassit Bamba, Samuel Cudjoe, Marietta Brew Appiah- Oppong, Victor Kojoga Adawudu, Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo, Dr. Abraham Amaliba, Dr. Rainer Akumperigya and Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, the Member of Parliament for South Dayi in the Volta Region.

    Some of the lawyers, hold the view that per Jean Mensa’s numbers, the worst-case scenario for the just-ended election was a runoff between Akufo-Addo and John Mahama, but not an outright victory for the NPP candidate.

    In this regard, Jean Mensa, like Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan in 2013 in the election petition, will be the focal point of the NDC’s legal team, hoping to extract as much information from her as possible to buttress the claims by both mathematicians and statisticians that Mrs Mensa’s mathematics was wrong.

    The many times she changed the figures she declared but kept saying the changes were not affecting the overall percentages obtained by the 17 candidates who took part in the race, has heightened the suspicions that something sinister took place behind the scenes ahead of the declaration of President Akufo-Addo as president-elect.

    The Herald’s information from the NDC legal team is that, while some of the lawyers felt that the party should go with the audited results by focusing on various infractions noted at the polling stations and collation centres, others believe that the time allotted the hearing is too short to traverse that path, hence Jean Mensa should just be made to justify her numbers.

    The lawyers pushing for the infractions to be placed before the Supreme Court judges insist there had been ballot box stuffing and over voting in certain parts of the country, particularly the Ashanti Region, and this must be dealt with by the apex court.

    The group has results from over 18,000 polling stations to push their case, however, those against the infractions are arguing that the Supreme Court, had in the 2013 election petition, filed by Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obtsebi-Lamptey, made a determination on that, saying it is not enough ground to overturn the declared result.

    For now, all attention is on Chief Justice Anin Yeboah, as to whether he would allow cameras into the courtroom as happened in 2013, when the then Chief Justice Georgina Wood, made history by opening the doors of the courtroom to TV cameras to enable Ghanaians to follow the proceedings presided by the now retired, Justice William Atuguba.

    Meanwhile, a member of the NDC legal team, Dr. Amaliba, has intimated that the party would make a request to the Chief Justice Anin Yeboah to repeat the 2013 scenario.

    Dr. Amaliba said such a request would be in the interest of fairness.

    Chief Justice Wood, in 2013, allowed cameras into the courtroom, following a demand made by Gabby Asare-Otchere Darko of the NPP for a live broadcast of the proceedings of their petition contesting the 2012 general elections result.

    Last Saturday, the NDC’s Lawyer, Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, formally announced that the petition would be filed this week Wednesday, but The Herald has picked up a report that the party has decided to do so a day ahead of time.

    Also on the bill, is the parliamentary results of the Techiman South Constituency, where the results declared in favour of Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsa, has been challenged by the NDC, which is demanding some documents as proof that the NPP candidate had won the seat at a place where its Presidential candidate John Mahama, beat Akufo-Addo with 52,034 as against 46,379 votes.

    The NDC insists that its candidate, Christopher Bayere, won the seat by 293 votes, but the EC is yet to release the document to the NDC to clear its doubt over that constituency.

    Dr. Amaliba told Citi News “We expect to be treated fairly, this is a national issue. We also expect that if we are able to make our case beyond a reasonable doubt, I am sure that the Supreme Court will hold that Nana Akufo-Addo, did not attain the required 50 +1 votes.”

    “Indeed, we also expect that the petition will be telecast live. Any attempt to hinder that will create the impression that the hearing is not going to be fair, so we will put in the request to have it telecast live,” he indicated.

    The NDC flagbearer, John Mahama, has refused to accept Akufo-Addo’s election victory.

    He described the election results announced by the EC as “fictionalised.”

    “I stand before you tonight unwilling to accept the fictionalised result of a flawed election,” Mr Mahama had said at a press conference.

    “What we witnessed across the country from Monday 7th December 2020, exposed a deliberate plan to manipulate and predetermine the results of the election in favour of the incumbent candidate Nana Akufo-Addo,” he added.

    The EC announced President Akufo-Addo, as the rightful winner of the December 7 polls on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, despite concerns raised by the NDC.

    President Akufo-Addo won with 6,730,587 (51.302%) of the total votes cast.

    Mr Mahama came second with 6,213,182 votes representing 47.359%.

    Source: The Herald

  • Jean Mensa’s ‘fake’ video was poorly done, an abuse of technology – Kweku Baako fumes

    Seasoned Journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr. has shared his view on a tape recording purportedly indicating the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Jean Mensa pronounced former President and NDC Presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama President-elect in the 2020 Presidential elections.

    A video has surfaced portraying the EC Chairperson as saying the former President had won the elections although declaring President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo winner of the elections.

    The Electoral Commission has issued a statement to denounce the video, stressing it’s been doctored as the EC Chairperson’s declaration of President Akufo-Addo victor in the elections was televised nationwide for all and sundry.

    Commenting on the issue during Wednesday’s edition of “Kokrokoo” programme on Peace FM, Mr. Baako expressed disgust over the video.

    He asserted that the video is fake but added it has dangerous repercussions.

    To him, the orchestrators doctored the tape so as to push their agenda that President Akufo-Addo was wrongly declared President-elect and that the Presidential seat belongs to John Mahama.

    “I’ve seen it, very interesting; even though it was a poor job . . . It’s an abuse of technology but it was also very poorly done. I mean any serious forensic, even non-forensic examination will show it’s fake. But, you see, whiles technologically, it’s fake and poor job; look, politically it’s a very dangerous game,” he said.

    “It won’t get all of us to believe in that but it will get some of us and that is the catalyst for some of the street agitations going. Those who don’t have the opportunity to examine the quality of that tape to see how fake it is, they will go out there believing that they’re fighting for a good cause.”

    He added that, “this fake video, whiles it’s a useless thing, it might have a certain value for some agitation that some people have decided to mount ceaselessly and relentlessly” but emphatically assured the opposition National Democratic Congress that, “this is not the third Republic where under the cover of darkness, they stole our mandate”.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Until Jean Mensa gives NDC back their seats there will be no peace Ashaiman MP

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region, Ernest Henry Norgbey, has indicated that members of the National Democratic Congress will embark on several demonstrations until the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission corrects the abnormalities in the 2020 elections results.

    According to Ernest Henry Norgbey, the party wants back their Sene East and Techiman East seats which they [NDC] alleged was given in favour of the New Patriotic Party.

    They have called on the Electoral Commission to do the needful as they want their votes to be counted.

    “We just organised ourselves to do a peaceful demonstration to show Ghanaians that the people of Ashiaman will not sleep for the incompetence of Jean Mensa to steal the verdict for Nana Akufo-Addo. That is what we are witnessing today, that we want our votes to be counted.” He said.

    “We want our seats; Sene East, Techiman South, and the other seats that were stolen from us back before we get the peace that we want in Ghana. We have all been preaching peace, so why is it that after an election, results are announced for there to be chaos. It means that something untoward happened,” he fumed in an interview with Citi News.

    Some members of the National Democratic Congress have embarked on demonstrations across country after the electoral commission declared Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the winner of the December polls.

    Their protest begun after Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu told supporters the NDC does not accept the results of the presidential elections as announced by the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) Jean Mensa

    At a press conference Haruna Iddrisu expressed reservations about the way and manner in which the polls were conducted hence, the rejection.

    “We reject the presidential elections as announced by the chair of the Electoral Commission. And we also want to serve notice that the blatant effort even to deny us of a parliamentary majority will be fiercely resisted,” the Tamale South lawmaker said.

    Some supporters in Bolgatanga, Tamale were seen on the streets burning car tyres in disapproval of the election results.

    Some Ashiaman supporters and NDC Women wing also hit the street yesterday to protest against the EC. They are stated that they intend to continuously hold a peace protest until their votes counts.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Jean Mensa has not travelled outside Ghana – EC debunks rumours

    The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Mensa, has not travelled outside the country after declaring the election 2020 presidential results, the Commission has said.

    This follows recent rumours that the EC Chairperson together with her deputies sought refuge in another country following the official declaration on December 9, 2020.

    In a statement released on Friday December 11, the Commission states unequivocally that Jean Mensa and her commissioners are still at post dispensing their duties as expected.

    “We wish to state that Mrs. Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, as well as all the Commissioners are at post discharging their legally mandated duties…,” the statement read in part.

    The EC has also, in the same vein, branded reports suggesting that commissioners had travelled outside Ghana absolute falsehood.

    The EC Chairperson has come under attack for what has been widely described as error-riddled election result which she announced to Ghanaians on Wednesday.

    Read full statement below;

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Vote based on programs, policies of parties – Jean Mensa to first-time voters

    Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Mensa has urged first-time voters in the upcoming December 7 polls to pay critical attention to programs and policies of parties before casting their votes.

    According to her, this would go a long way to contributing to the general development of the country.

    While addressing some first-time voters from the Youth Bridge Foundation, the EC Chairperson said “I just urge you, in this election to go out in your numbers to cast your votes in a meaningful way. I think it is important that you look at the policies and programs that political parties have before you cast your votes.”

    Adding that, “…at the end of the day your vote will be meaningful and will lead to the development of our country.”

    The EC Chairperson also encouraged first-time voters to be agents of peace as the country prepares to head to the polls.

    She also cautioned them not to be used as tools to perpetrate acts of violence in the upcoming elections.

    “I would like to use this opportunity to call on the youth not to allow yourselves to be used to foment trouble. Be it on the streets or social media. Just a few days ago we saw some acts of violence in Odododiodoo and I believe there are people who are behind this violence… You must not allow yourself to be used. Let us say no to violence,” she said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ASEPA’s petition to remove EC boss thrown out as CJ makes no adverse findings

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has dismissed a petition to remove the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa following a determination of no adverse evidence of a legal breach by the EC boss.

    Civil society organisation, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), led by its Executive Secretary, Mensah Thompson petitioned the President to remove Mrs Jean Mensa from office on the grounds that she failed to declare her assets on time on assumption of office in 2018.

    After the Presidency forwarded the petition to the Chief Justice for action, the Chief Justice did not establish any adverse evidence of a legal breach against the EC boss.

    The Chief Justice did not also find any statute that criminalises the non-declaration of assets within the stipulated time in the Constitution.

    Following this, the Presidency subsequently dismissed the petition.

    Earlier petition to CHRAJ

    ASEPA had earlier on December 12, 2019, filed a similar complaint at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) that Mrs Mensa failed or refused to declare her assets.

    CHRAJ ruled in favour of the Chairperson of the EC.

    In its decision on June 4, 2020, CHRAJ held that at the time the complaint was filed on December 12, 2019, the EC boss had not filed her assets with the Auditor-General, but she filed her assets on February 17, 2020, after the complaint was brought to her attention.

    Such a move, CHRAJ held, meant the EC boss had not refused to declare her assets as required by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution.

    ASEPA petitions President

    Not satisfied with the ruling by CHRAJ, ASEPA in a letter dated June 9, 2020 petitioned the President to remove the EC boss for failing to declare her assets on time.

    ASEPA argued that Mrs Mensa failed to declare her assets “within three months as stipulated by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, although she became the Chairperson of the EC on January 8, 2018.”

    Chief Justice’s conclusions and dismissal of petition

    In a letter dated July 27, 2020 and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, the Presidency explained that the petition was forwarded to the Chief Justice for action but the Chief Justice did not establish any adverse evidence of a legal breach against the EC boss.

    “The Chief Justice did not find any statute that criminalises the non-declaration of assets within the stipulated time in the Constitution,” the letter from the presidency explained.

    “In any event, CHRAJ did not make any adverse findings against the Chairperson as the investigation was terminated and the complaint dismissed after the Chairperson declared her assets on 17th February 2020,” the letter added.

    “Accordingly, I am directed by the President to inform you [ASEPA] that your petition has been dismissed,” it said.

    What CHRAJ said

    According to CHRAJ, having established that Mrs Mensa had complied with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, it was not necessary to continue with investigations into the complaint by ASEPA.

    That, CHRAJ said, was in line with Section 13 (1)(b) of the CHRAJ Act, 1993 (Act 456) which allowed the commission to refuse to continue to investigate a matter when it appeared that further investigation was not needed.

    “Having established in the course of the investigation that the respondent (EC boss) has now complied with Article 286 albeit late , the commission is of the considered opinion that the appropriate action, having regard to the circumstances of the case, is to refuse to investigate the matter any further as further investigation will not be necessary,” the decision signed by the Commissioner for CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, stated.

    File your assets early

    CHRAJ, however, advised Mrs Mensa not to delay in declaring her assets with the Auditor-General in the future.

    “Based on the results of the investigations, the commission strongly advises the respondent (Mrs Mensa) to pay careful attention to her obligations under Article 286 to ensure that the delay that occurred previously in the declaration of her assets and liabilities does not occur,” CHRAJ said.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • ‘The good people of Ghana will judge our performance’ – Jean Mensa to critics

    In my law class 30 years ago, one of the profound doctrines was the Latin expression “Res ispa loquitur,” which means the thing speaks for it self; and on that premise, we will leave the good people of Ghana to judge our performance.

    These were the words of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, as she responded to a question on how the Commission would rate its performance in the just ended mass voter registration exercise.

    She was speaking at the eighth edition of the Let the Citizens Know series, a platform created by the EC to engage citizens on the electoral process.

    The Commission had projected to register 15 million eligible Ghanaians in the 38-day mass registration exercise, but exceeded that target after registering 16,663,669 at the end of the registration on Thursday, August 6.

    With a mop-up registration scheduled to take place at the various offices of the Commission on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, the figure will shoot up.

    Giving that the move by the EC to compile a new register ahead of the December 7, 2020 polls had been met with resistance by some political parties and civil society organisations (CSOs); and that the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) scourge had been an issue of grave concern, many had little or no hope in the ability of the Commission carry out the exercise.

    It therefore, came as refreshing news for the Commission to have scaled that challenge.

    And on that solid foundation, Mrs Mensa, reiterated that the successful completion of the mass voter registration exercise was just the beginning of many other transparent processes the EC had put in place for a credible and fair election.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Today in History: IEAs Jean Mensa nominated EC Chairperson

    In July 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo nominated the head of the Institute for Economic Affairs Jean Mensa as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

    Her nomination followed the removal from office of the former Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Mrs. Georgina Opoku Amankwah, by President Akufo-Addo, after a Committee established by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, to investigate petitions brought against them, recommended their removal.

    The nomination announcement came with two others for the role of deputies in the persons of Mr Samuel Tettey and Dr Eric Bossman Asare as well Ms Adwoa Asuama Abrefe, who was also nominated to serve as a member of the commission.

    Below is the full statement signed by the Chief of Staff Frema Opare

    The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has, by letter dated, Thursday, 190 July, 2018, sought the advice of the Council of State, in accordance with Article 70(2) of the Constitution, for the appointment of a new Chairperson, two Deputy Chairpersons, and a Member of the Electoral Commission (EC).

    This follows the removal from office, on Thursday, 28th June, 2018, of the former Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and the two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Mrs. Georgina Opoku Amankwah, by President Akufo-Addo, after the Committee established by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, to investigate petitions brought against them, recommended their removal. Further, the retirement from office of Mrs. Pauline Dadzawa, a Member of the Commission, on Monday, 30m April, 2018, has created an additional vacancy in the Commission.

    The following persons have, thus, been nominated for appointment by the President to fill these vacancies, subject to the advice of the Council of State: 1. Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensah — Chairperson

    2. Mr. Samuel Tettey — Deputy Chairperson

    3. Dr. Eric Asare Bossman — Deputy Chairperson

    4. Ms. Adwoa Asuama Abrefa — Member of the Commission

    President Akufo-Addo is hopeful that the Council of State will discharge its constitutional duty expeditiously, to enable hint make these critical appointments to this very important institution of State.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Court sets July 16 to rule on MPs BVMS suit against EC

    An Accra High Court will on Thursday, July 16, 2020, decide whether or not to compel the Electoral Commission (EC) to provide Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey, with some procurement information.

    Ernest Henry Norgbey in March 2020, filed a suit in court to compel the EC to furnish him with some procurement information on the new Biometric Management System (BVMS).

    His suit comes after the EC initially refused to furnish him with the information stating that “an applicant seeking to access information under this Act [Right to Information] shall pay the fee or charge approved by Parliament in accordance with the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 (Act 793).”

    According to the Commission, fees and charges applicable for the said information are yet to be determined in accordance with the law hence the reason such information cannot be given out.

    In the suit, the MP is seeking a declaration that the “refusal, failure or neglect” of the EC to furnish him with the information on the BVMS, violates his rights under Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution which guarantees the right to information.

    He also wants to know the processes the EC adopted prior to contracting the services of Dr Ofori-Adjei, IT Consultant and Mr A. Akrofi, Procurement Consultant; and whether the said procurements were done in accordance with Part 6 of the Public Procurement Act among others.

    Mr. Norgbey is also demanding “a copy of the award letter from the EC to Thales DIS in respect of the contract for the acquisition of hardware component of the new voter management system.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • NPP strongholds top with the highest registration figures

    The electoral commission of Ghana led by Mrs.Jean Mensah ,chairperson of the commission ,Dr.Bossman Asare deputy chair of cooperate affairs and Mr. Samuel Tetteh in charge of operations,since assumption, made plans of registering eligible Ghanaians to vote in the upcoming 2020 general elections ,since the registration began, the commission has organized a weekly press conference dubbed let the citizens know this week series was presented by Dr.Bossman Asare ,chairperson in charge of cooperate services,which focused on the number of eligible Ghanaian voters registered so far at the end of second phase which ended on Sunday 12 th July ,2020.

    Dr.Bossman said so far almost 4.5 million eligible Ghanaians have so registered with greater Accra leading with the highest percentage of 20.9 %,followed by Ashanti region with a percentage of 18.4 % ,next region with the third highest percentage being the Eastern region with the percentage of 9.4% ,the fourth region with the highest percentage is the central region ,he further cautioned all political party representatives of taking the details of applicants register card including the pooling station codes and their contacts numbers .

    He asked the agents of all the political parties to focus on their mandated roles and not to interfere with the commission’s job ,he continued to state that the commission will extend the time for the phase two of the registration to allow electorates to register in those affected areas he continued to say that commission is expecting to register about 15 million eligible Ghanaians at the end of the registration exercise which is expected to end in the first week of August .

    Source: opera.com

  • Jean Mensa has not tested positive for coronavirus – EC

    The Electoral Commission has refuted claims that suggests the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, has tested positive for coronavirus.

    According to the Commission, such media reportage should be disregarded by general public.

    In a press statement signed by the Acting Director of Public Affairs, Sylvia Annoh, said “the commission wishes to state that the chairperson of the Electoral Commission is well and at post. She has not tested for the Coronavirus”

    “We are therefore calling on the general public to disregard the lies and fabrication and treat the story with the contempt it deserves.” She added.

    Below is full statement.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Over 2.2m voters registered

    Over 2.2 million (2,216,141) voters have been registered and issued voter identification cards in the first six days of the ongoing mass registration exercise. Daily Figures

    The daily figures are Day One – 308,925; Day Two – 403,274; Day Three – 437,296; Day Four 395,557; Day Five 349,602; and Day Six 321, 487. 68.9% used Ghana Card

    Data compiled by the Electoral Commission (EC) indicates that a large majority (68.9%) of the registrants used Ghana Card as identification to support their registration.

    28.8% used guarantors

    On the other hand, 28.8% of registrants used guarantors to support their registration.

    2.3% used passport

    According to the data, only 2.3% used passport as identification to support their registration.

    Greater Accra Region-427,039 (19.27%)

    The Greater Accra Region topped the list with 427,039 prospective voters registering, representing 19.27% of all persons registered in the first phase batch one.

    Ashanti Region-423, 998 (19.13%)

    In second position is Ashanti Region with 423,998 prospective voters, constituting 19.13%.

    Eastern Region-215, 616 (9.73%)

    Data compiled by the Electoral Commission indicates that Eastern Region placed third, registering 215,616 voters, representing 9.73%.

    Central Region-202, 036 (9.12%)

    In the fourth position is Central Region, which registered 202,036 voters, representing 9.12%.

    Western Region-145,741 (6.58%)

    Western Region came fifth, recording 145,741 voters registered, constituting 6.58%.

    Volta Region-139,968 (6.32%)

    Volta Region placed sixth with 139,968, amounting to 6.32%. Northern Region-121, 818 (5.5%) A total of 121,818 prospective voters, representing 5.5%, were also registered in the Northern Region to occupy the seventh position.

    Bono Region-94, 837(4.28%)

    The Bono Region recorded 94,837 prospective voters, constituting 4.28%, to place eighth on the log.

    Bono East-84, 572 (3.82%)

    In the Bono East Region, 84,572 prospective voters were registered, which amounts to 3.82% and 10th position.

    Upper East-71,526 (3.2%)

    Upper East Region came 11th with 71,526 registered prospective voters, representing 3.2%.

    Western North-64,199 (2.9%)

    A total of 64,199 prospective voters, which constitutes 2.9%, were registered in the Western North Region to place the region in the 12th position.

    West Region -60,944 (2.8%)

    It is followed by the Upper West Region in the 13th position with 60,944 prospective voters, which constitutes 2.8%.

    Ahafo Region-44,640 (2.01%)

    The Ahafo Region placed 14th on the log, with 44,640 prospective voters registered, representing 2.01%.

    Savannah Region-43,632 (1.97%)

    Savannah Region registered 43,632 prospective voters, which amounts to 1.97%, to occupy the 15th position.

    North East-37,024 (1.7%)

    Speaking to The Finder, Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Serebour Quaicoe said the EC estimated to register 1.8 million prospective voters in the first batch of the first phase of the exercise.

    He suspects that the number went to over 2.2 million because prospective voters from other polling stations who were not patient to wait for the registration to get to their turn have registered.

    This, he said, was partly responsible for the congestion at some of the registration centres.

    However, Dr Quaicoe stated that mobile teams stationed at district offices are deployed to help centres with long queues.

    On isolated cases of machine breakdown, he said technicians are on standby to repair instantly or replace the faulty one with new machines.

    Source: thefinderonline.com

  • Halt voter registration now Doctors to Jean Mensa

    Over 200 health workers including 99 medical doctors have petitioned the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) to halt the ongoing mass voter registration exercise in order to prevent Ghana from suffering potentially thousands of deaths from coronavirus.

    The petition to Jean Adukwei Mensa is the second by these health workers.

    In the first dated Wednesday, June 24, the health workers cautioned the EC on its intention to conduct the exercise as they claimed it would lead to increased cases of Covid-19 and related deaths.

    “The response from officialdom was that all public health protocols and precautions against Covid-19 will be adhered to.

    “Unfortunately, ongoing events across the country have confirmed our worst fears,” they said.

    Source: 3 News

  • EC hit with a third lawsuit over voters register

    The Electoral Commission has been sued again over its decision to compile an electoral roll the third of such a legal challenge over the controversial matter.

    The latest lawsuit has been filed by the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman Constituency, Ernest Nogbey, and is praying the Accra Court to give an order that the Electoral Commission does not have the mandate to compile a new register.

    Two suits have already been filed against the Commission over the matter.

    The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and one Mr Mark Takyi-Banson, a private citizen, have both gone to court seeking to stop the EC from going ahead with a new electoral roll for the December 2020 general elections.

    While the NDC and Mr Takyi-Banson have gone to the Supreme Court, the latest lawsuit has been filed at the Accra High Court.

    The NDC and Mr Takyi-Banson are seeking that the Supreme Court exercises its power of interpretation and enforcement to compel the Electoral Commission to not compile a new register, to allow the use of voters ID card and birth certificate if the court allows the EC to do so, as proof of identification.

    The latest case filed by Mr Norgbey is seeking a judicial review and is asking the High Court to restrain the EC from undertaking the exercise.

    The legislator also wants the High Court to rule that the current voters register until revoked by a law passed by Parliament, is the only register that can be used for the conduct of the 2020 election.

    The two previous lawsuits have been slated for hearing on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, and the new case filed by Mr Norgbey is due at the High Court on Monday, June 29.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • CHRAJ discontinues investigations into EC boss’ asset declaration complaint

    The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has ruled in favour of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa, over a complaint that she refused to declare her assets as required by law.

    In its decision on June 4, 2020, CHRAJ held that at the time the complaint was filed on December 12, 2019, the EC boss had not filed her assets with the Auditor-General, but she filed her assets on February 17, 2020, after the complaint was brought to her attention.

    Such a move, CHRAJ held, meant the EC boss had not refused to declare her assets as required by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution.

    According to the commission, having established that Mrs Mensa had complied with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, it was not necessary to continue with investigations into the complaint by the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA).

    That, CHRAJ said, was in line with Section 13 (1)(b) of the CHRAJ Act, 1993 (Act 456) which allowed the commission to refuse to continue to investigate a matter when it appeared that further investigation was not needed.

    “Having established in the course of the investigation that the respondent (EC boss) has  now complied with Article 286 albeit late , the commission is of the considered opinion that the appropriate action , having regard to the circumstances of the case, is to refuse to investigate the matter any further as further investigation will not be necessary,” the decision signed by the Commissioner for CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, stated.

    File your assets early

    CHRAJ, however, advised Mrs Mensa not to delay in declaring her assets with the Auditor-General in the future.

    “Based on the results of the investigations, the commission strongly advises the respondent (Mrs Mensa) to pay careful attention to her obligations under Article 286 to ensure that the delay that occurred previously in the declaration of her assets and liabilities does not occur,” CHRAJ said.

    Complaint

    On December 12, 2019, ASEPA, filed a complaint with a case that Mrs Mensa had failed or refused to declare her assets within three months as stipulated by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, although she became the Chairperson of the EC on January 8, 2018.

    CHRAJ, after receiving the complaint, wrote to the Auditor-General on December 17, 2019, to ascertain whether or not the EC Chairperson had filed her assets as required by law.

    On December 30, 2019, the Auditor-General replied CHRAJ, and stated that Mrs Mensa had not submitted to the Auditor-General a declaration of her assets.

    Based on the response from the Auditor -General, CHRAJ established that the complainant had satisfied a basis for the commission to investigate the matter.

    Response

    The commission, therefore, forwarded a copy of the complaint to the EC boss to respond to the allegations levelled against her in line with the rules of natural justice.

    In her response submitted to CHRAJ on May 12, 2020, Mrs Mensa informed CHRAJ that she had filed her assets and liabilities with the Auditor -General as required by law.

    “She attached a copy of the official receipt dated February 17, 2020 from the office of the Auditor-General as evidence that she has submitted her assets declaration form,” CHRAJ stated in its decision. — #GhanaVotes2020

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Asset Declaration: Jean Mensa cleared; EC Boss took necessary steps to declare assets CHRAJ report

    Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Mensa has been cleared by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice over allegations of her failure to declare her assets and liabilities upon assumption of office as EC Chair.

    According to a report by the Commission, the EC Chair did take the necessary steps to declare her assets, although later than expected.

    Based on this, no further investigations will be conducted into the matter, the report by CHRAJ, signed by Joseph Whittal summarises.

    “Having established in the course of the investigation that the Respondent has now complied with Article 286, albeit late, the Commission is of the considered view that the appropriate action, having regard to the circumstances of the case, is to refuse to investigate the matter any further as further investigation would not be necessary”.

    CHRAJ began preliminary investigations into the claim that the EC Chair had failed to declare her assets after pressure group, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) petitioned it to investigate the matter and mete out the necessary sanctions if necessary.

    But CHRAJ in its report after preliminary investigations into the issue have cleared the EC Chair, putting to rest the issue of asset declaration in relation to Madam Jean Mensa.

    Source: abcnewsgh.com

  • Lets build consensus on 2020 electoral process — COMOG

    The Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana (COMOG) has called for dialogue among all political parties and the Electoral Commission (EC) for a consensus to ensure a credible process towards election 2020 and beyond.

    That, it said, would ensure that the 2020 election would be peaceful, free and fair as well as be in the best interest of Ghanaians and the international community.

    A statement issued in Accra and signed by the Chairman, of the COMOG Media, PR and Research Committee, Mr Mawuli Mustapha Braimah, said peaceful and successful elections would also make Ghana remain a beacon of democracy on the African continent.

    Impasse

    It said COMOG considered it important to add its voice to the current impasse between the EC and other stakeholders.

    “Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections are six months away but the political environment in the country is filled with tension with the main stakeholders divided on the process to compile a new biometric voter register,” it noted.

    It said in past months, COMOG had witnessed heightened tension and actions by other non-political interest groups voicing their concerns on the stand-off among the EC, National Identification Authority (NIA), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Inter-Party Coalition Against New Voter’s Register (IPRAN).

    The statement said COMOG had also taken cognisance of two former Presidents, Messrs J. J. Rawlings and J. A. Kuffour, legal experts, political scientists and civil social organisations adding their voices to the call for adequate dialogue.

    “It is the fervent hope of COMOG to see the EC, the NDC and other stakeholders resolve their differences amicably,” it added.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Minority Caucus condemn manner of arrest of ‘NDC man of God’

    The Minority Caucus in Parliament has condemned and denounced the manner of arrest by National Security operatives of Apostle Kwabena Owusu Agyei a self-acclaimed pastor on Tuesday.

    According to the Minority Caucus, the manner of arrest of Apostle Kwabena Owusu Agyei violated his fundamental human rights.

    Speaking to Journalists at Parliament House on Wednesday, the Minority Ranking Member on the Committee on Interior, James Agalga said article 19 of the 1992 Constitution enjoins arresting officers to respect the innocence of suspects until they are proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    James Agalga pointed out that the arrest warrant was not read to the suspect before he was whisked by security personnel and the display of the suspect before the cameras could prejudice the outcome of any future trial of the suspect.

    He said the government has allegedly decided to intimidate people who criticize the wrongdoing of government and state agencies which according to the Minority is unfortunate.

    Apostle Kwabena Owusu Agyei, Founder and Leader of the Hezekiah Apostolic Prayer Ministry, who allegedly threatened to ‘kill’ Mrs. Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) has been remanded by an Accra Circuit Court.

    The self-styled man of God is also said to have insulted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    He has been charged with the threat of death, offensive conduct to the breach of peace, and possession of a narcotic drug.

    He is said to have threatened the life of Mrs. Jean Mensa after insulting her and the President.

    He has denied all the charges and would make his next appearance on June 23.

    Police Sergeant Frederick Sarpong, told the Court presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Essandoh that the accused, on Thursday, June 4, made a live video of himself on Facebook and YouTube threatening to kill the EC Chairperson if she went ahead with the compilation of the new voters’ register.

    In the same video, he rained insults on Mrs. Jean Mensa and the President, Nana Akufo-Addo.

     

    Source: Peace FM

  • Urine test results: Pastor who threatened to kill Jean Mensa was high on cannabis, tramadol

    A urine test conducted on Pastor Kwabena Owusu Agyei, who was arrested for allegedly threatening EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, has come out positive for two substances; tramadol, and tetrahydrocannabinol.

    The self-styled man of God after his arrest on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, was found to be in possession of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp.

    A drug test for eight banned substances was subsequently conducted on him at the Police Hospital.

    A medical report, signed by Police Superintendent, Dr. Adwoa Nuro-Panin of the Police Hospital and in possession of ABC News revealed that Pastor Owusu Agyei tested negative for six of the drugs, except for tetrahydrocannabinol and Tramadol.

    Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is the psychoactive substance that produces the “high” associated with smoking marijuana.

    Source: abcnewsgh.com

  • NPP lashes NDC for claiming Jean Mensah is a relative of First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo in court

    The controversy and feud between the two major Political Party’s in Ghana thus, The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) comes to a successful end today after the National Democratic Congress  withdraws their allegations upon the Electoral commission (EC) today.

    All this controversies started after the Electoral Commission Boss, Madam Jean Mensah announced the introduction of the new voters register ahead of the General Elections. This made the opposition party (NDC) to be aggressive and furious after hearing the news with just a barely 6 months to the Elections.

    This has caused a massive protest in the country as the opposition party does not understand the exact reason why the Electoral Commission wants to change the current voters register compilation just because the Electoral Commission Boss is an NPP member which seems to be very sensitive for them.

    This made the case to end up in court after the NDC started with a strong protest against the initiating of the New Voters Register besides we’re under a Democratic government so they have the power to do what they like only if it is positive and law abiding to avoid any misfortunes.

    The COVID-19 pandemic was also the reason why the NDC was against the new voters register due to the queue citizen’s will form before registering.

    Meanwhile, today as the final Justification took place in court, The Communication Officer and Lawyer for the NDC showed up with prove that initially tells that Madam Jean Mensah is a relative to First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo as a result of being bias in the upcoming Elections due to his Political team.

    This made the NPP representatives at the Supreme Court today to lambast him for allegating wrongly as they claim Jean Mensah is nothing to Rebecca Akuffo Addo and so therefore Sammy Gyamfi should retract that statement.

    The New Patriotic Party has withdrawn their case with the Electoral Commission to bury the hatchet ahead of the December General Elections.

    Source: Ghcelebritiesinfo.online

  • Journalist narrates how prophet who threatened to kill EC boss was arrested

    Host of “Maakye’ morning show on Accra-based Hot 93.9FM; Isaac Boamah Darko has a given a vivid description of how the self-acclaimed Pastor and Sympathizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) ‘Apostle’, Kwamena Owusu Agyei who threatened to kill the chairperson of the Electoral Commission(EC) Jean Mensa was arrested on Tuesday, 9th June, 2020.

    Apostle Kwamena Owusu Agyei, was arrested by some officers of the National Security while granting a live interview with Boamah Darko on Hot 93.9FM at a hideout at Greda Estate in Accra.

    Explaining what led to the arrest on his show “Maakye”, Boamah Darko stated that they wanted to make him retract his statement and apologize to Mrs Jean Mensa and President Akufo-Addo for the unpleasant statements he made about them but it ended up not as planned.

    The “Maakye” morning show host expressed his disappointments in some Ghanaians for saying he planned the arrest of Apostle Agyei because that wasn’t the motive behind the interview.

    He emphasized candidly that, “We made sure no one was aware of the location of Apostle Agyei during the interview and was even shocked when the BNI arrived at the Premises for the interview”.–adding that”, We even asked the security men who came to him for their arrest warrant and ID cards”.

    Watch below his narration on Radio.

    Source: hotfmghana.com

  • ASEPA demands immediate resignation of EC chair

    Policy think tank, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) is demanding the immediate resignation of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa.

    ASEPA says if the EC boss fails to do the needful, it will be forced to petition the President to sack her for breaching a constitutional mandate to declare her assets upon resumption of office.

    The demand follows investigations by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ, that found the EC Chair, guilty for non-disclosure of assets and liabilities, a mandatory requirement for all public officials (Article 71 Office Holders).

    “Jean Mensah took office on the 1st August 2018 and as at the time we filed our petition on the 12th December 2019, 16months after taking office had failed to comply with the provisions of Article 286,” ASEPA said in a statement.

    The Executive Director of ASEPA, Mensah Thompson has threatened to petition president Nana Akufo-Addo to remove the EC boss from office if she fails to bow out honourably.

    The petition filed on December 12, 2019, was against three officers, Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah, the EC chair and her deputy, Dr Bossman Asare.

    Find below the full release by ASEPA

    PRESS RELEASE
    CHRAJ FINDS JEAN MENSA GUILTY OF ASSET NON-DISCLOSURE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, ASEPA TO PETITION PRESIDENT AKUFO ADDO FOR HER REMOVAL

    Since December last year, ASEPA has been involved in a number of Asset declaration campaigns.

    Three petitions were sent to CHRAJ against three high ranking Public Officials (Article 71 Office Holders) namely.

    Justice Anim Yeboah
    Jean Adukwei Mensah
    Bossman Asare.

    CHRAJ recently issued a report on Justice Anim Yeboah and today it has released its report on the case against Jean Mensa.

    Article 286 provides that within three months upon assumption of office, all public officials in such determined categories must declare their assets and liabilities with the Auditor General.

    Such declarations are done at the end of every four-year tenure.

    Jean Mensah took office on the 1st August 2018 and as at the time we filed our petition on the 12th December 2019, 16months after taking office had failed to comply with the provisions of Article 286.

    This is a clear exhibition of misconduct and a violation of the laws of Ghana by a public officer.

    In the case of Article 71 Office holders, the law says in such instances Article 146 must be invoked.

    So tomorrow the provisions of Article 146, would be invoked by filing a petition for the removal from office of Jean Mensah for breaching the Asset declaration laws of Ghana.

    Remember the previous Commissioner was removed from office for allegedly breaching some provisions of the Public Procurement Laws of Ghana, well Jean Mensa is in total violation of the Asset Declaration Law and same remedies must apply.

    We believe Jean Mensa is not fit to lead the Electoral Commission of Ghana into a major elections when she is compromised and has demonstrated a clear disregard for the Constitution that empowers her.

    We are therefore calling for her immediate resignation to save herself from the ordeal of procedural removal.

    Signed:
    Mensah Thompson
    Executive Director,
    ASEPA

     

    Source: Starr FM

  • Ghana card, voter registrations to resume as president lifts restrictions

    The controversial registration exercises by the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Identification Authority (NIA) will soon resume following the easing of restrictions on public and social gatherings by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    In his 10th televised address to the nation on the Coronavirus pandemic, on Sunday, May 31, the president urged institutions to adhere to safety protocols in their activities.

    “…Constitutional and statutory bodies such as the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education, and the National Identification Authority, whose activities were exempted from the outset from these restrictions, must conduct their activities in accordance with social distancing and the necessary hygiene and safety protocols,” the president said.

    The president on March 15, banned all public gatherings including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, church activities, and other related events as part of measures to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), in the country.

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) which was organising its Ghana Card registration exercise at the time was compelled to suspend the exercise.

    The NIA which was registering residents in the Eastern Region, the only region left for them to complete their nationwide registration exercise, is expected under this new presidential directive to complete that task by mid-June.

    The EC has said that it will use data from the NIA to compile the register.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Jean Mensa must account for botched December 17 referendum – Odike

    The founder of the United Front Party, Akwasi Addai Odike, has asked the Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa to come and account for the botched referendum.

    Mr. Odike says the cancellation of the December 17 referendum despite the campaigns and printing of ballot papers caused the nation money hence the need for the EC boss to account.

    The businessman cum politician told Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that though, the cost of the botched referendum is yet to be known by him, he is of a strong opinion that Ghana lost millions of cedis as a result of the decision to cancel the process.

    President Akufo-Addo on December 1, 2019 called off the holding of the Referendum of 17th December 2019 citing the lack of a broad, national consensus amongst key stakeholders and the populace.

    President Akufo-Addo following that decision instructed the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama who was spearheading the process on behalf of the government to abort the process and to see the withdrawal of the bills for the amendment of the constitution, both in respect of the Article 243(1) and Article 55(3).

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Election 2020: Jean Mensa repeating Charlotte Oseis mistakes Odike

    Founder and leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Akwasi Addai Odike has faulted the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa for wallowing in the same mistakes that led to the dismissal of her predecessor, Madam Charlotte Osei.

    On June 28, 2018, President Akufo Addo removed from office the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Ms. Georgina Opoku Amankwah, with immediate effect, after the Committee set up by the then Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, pursuant to Article 146(4) of the Constitution, to investigate separate complaints brought against the three persons by Ghanaian citizens, recommended their removal from office.

    A statement signed and issued by the Minister of Information at the time, Hon. Mustapha Abdul Hamid said, “The Committee recommended their removal on the basis of stated misbehaviour and incompetence, pursuant to Article 146(1) of the Constitution.”

    “The provisions of Article 146(9) of the Constitution require the President of the Republic to act in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee.”

    But contributing to discussions on Kumasi-based Angel FM, Mr Odike said, the Electoral Commission and its Chairperson are being “micromanaged” by the government to do its bidding of organizing elections under dangerous circumstances with a questionable new voters register, “walking in the same mistakes Madam Charlotte Osei made”.

    “The concentration of the whole world is on the fight against COVID-19; the world is not normal anymore, economies are shaking so if we do not get a well grounded footing and we rush into this election haphazardly and anything triggers, Ghana would be doomed. I appeal to the Electoral Commission and the government of the day to not rush us into the election, until normal times are restored”, he said.

    Source: My News GH

  • Parliament summons Jean Mensa over December polls

    The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Mensa, has been summoned by Parliament to brief the house next week on her plans for 2020 elections.

    Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu informed the House during the business statement for next week.

    The announcement follow demands by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu and other MPs who demanded the commission to appear before the house with a brief on arrangements for the December 7 polls.

    Responding to their concerns, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said the commission has been summoned to brief Parliament next week.

    Meanwhile, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says about 93% of potential voters in the Upper East and Upper West regions will be ineligible to vote if the electoral commission insists on its controversial voter registration methods.

    The Electoral Commission has said the Ghana card and passports are the primary documents to be used for the upcoming registration.

    However, the Director of Elections of the NDC Elvis Afriyie Ankrah says it will be undemocratic to resort to such a means to disenfranchise Ghanaians from voting.

    Addressing the media in Accra Thursday, Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said “Only about 6.5 million people have access to the NIA card. The NIA could not dispute our claim that only 5.17 per cent and 6.36 per cent of the registrable population in the Upper West and Upper East regions, respectively, have been issued Ghana cards, as we speak.

    “So, Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Savannah, North-East, you look at the figures, 86 per cent, 84 per cent, 85 per cent and Upper East and Upper West 5.17 per cent and Upper East 6.36 per cent. So, the rest of the ninety-something per cent, what is going to happen to them? Are they not Ghanaians? Do they not deserve to be treated rightly, fairly and justly as anybody else? Do they have to go through the hustle of trying to find people to guarantee for them with all its delays and frustrations?”.

    He stressed: “So, take note of that because when we speak, they say where is the conspiracy. So, by strange, accidental reason, [in] the strongholds of the NDC, you have a situation where 93 per cent of eligible voters in these two regions would not have access to their cards. And they have to resort to the secondary method of vouching as the norm rather than the exception. Is it fair, is it right? Are you creating a level playing field?”

    “The big question, therefore, is why would the Jean Mensa-led EC rely on an identification card, Ghana card, whose issuance is largely incomplete, and fraught with several anomalies and demographic disparities? Why is the Jean Mensa-led EC excluding from the list of registration requirements under the proposed C.I. their own widely available and acceptable voter ID card and rather including the Ghana card, which is currently possessed by just about 6.5 million Ghanaians who are 18 years and above? A card which is currently not accepted by any public, private or commercial institution.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Brouhaha over a new voters register: Ghanaians share their views

    The intention of the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters register ahead of the 2020 general elections has generated a lot of controversies between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    The NDC is accusing the EC and the ruling government of conniving to rig the next elections through the compilation of a new register.

    They contend that there is limited time to the general elections and also the new requirements needed by Ghanaians to be on the register will disenfranchise a lot of people.

    However, the NPP disagrees with this stance and states that the current voters register is fraught with so many challenges, hence the need of a new one.

    Though the NPP admits that the register was the one used in their historic electoral victory in 2016, they argues that it has many non-Ghanaians on it therefore a new one has to be compiled.

    This bickering among the two major political parties over the register has spilled over to conversations by civil society organisations and well meaning Ghanaians.

    Pulse Ghana, therefore sampled the views of some Ghanaians on the necessity of a new voters register.

    Amadu, Electrical Technician: “I’m confused as to why the Electoral Commission is bent on compiling a new register, because we used the old register in the last election of Assemblymen and Unit Committee members just last December.”

    Randy, Journalist: “The EC is an independent body and mandated to compile a new register anytime they deem fit, therefore, I don’t see the issues the NDC are raising. I think the EC should be allow to do their work.”

    Kwaku, Nurse: “I think the EC should take into account the coronavirus pandemic and sheve its plans to compile a new register. I don’t think it is safe for people to queue and get registered, it can escalate Ghana’s coronavirus cases.”

    Slyvia, Marketer: Honestly, I’m indifferent on this issue. I don’t actually care what the EC and politicians do. They can go ahead and do whatever they want.”

    Tony, IT Specialist: “A new voters register will give some credibility to our elections and I am all for it. Also new technology for elections abound and I think we should look at upgrading our systems to make our elections perfect.”

    Yaa, Beautician: “If a new register will be the best for Ghana then why not? I am for anything that will inure to the benefit of Ghana and its people.”

    Kojo, Banker: “We should use the old register for the December elections and compile a new one later. I feel the time to the next elections is short for the compilation of a fresh voters register. It will cause a lot of problems.”

    Source: pulse.com.gh