The National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has called for the dismissal of the top officials at the Electoral Commission.
According to Asiedu Nketiah, the top commissioners, including Jean Mensa (Chairperson), Samuel Tettey (Deputy Chairman for Operations), Dr Bossman Eric Asare (Deputy Chairman for Corporate Services), Adwoa Asuama Abrefa (Commissioner), Salima Ahmed Tijani, Dr Peter Appiahene, and Rev Akua Ofori Boateng, need to step down as part of an institutional reset.
In an interview on Radio Gold on April 18, 2025, he explained that he had called for their removal even when his party was in opposition. Now that they are in power, he still stands by his comments.
“Before we came to power, I called for a reset of our various institutions, the judiciary, the Electoral Commission, and the Auditor General, and I termed it an institutional reset.
“I still stand by my comments because I raised these concerns first. Why should I change my mind just because we have won an election and the EC is now seen as an angel?” he said.
When asked by the host if the Electoral Commission officials should be sacked, he replied, “For me, not only her, but all the topmost people must also go.”
Meanwhile, a Ghanaian citizen residing in the Volta Region has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to remove the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, from office.
The petitioner is also calling for the removal of the EC’s two deputies, Samuel Tetteh and Dr Bossman Eric Asare, as well as EC member Dr Peter Appiahene.
The petition, filed on Monday, January 27, 2025, alleges breaches of fundamental human rights under Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution. It also cites constitutional violations, including incompetence, bias, and actions that undermine public confidence in the Commission’s impartiality and integrity, contrary to Articles 23 and 296 of the Constitution.
According to the petitioner, the disenfranchisement of voters in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) areas during the 2020 parliamentary elections constitutes a gross violation of citizens’ rights under Article 42.
He argued that the EC’s denial of parliamentary representation to SALL residents was an attempt to influence the balance of power in Parliament.
“For over four years, the people of SALL were deprived of their constitutional right to parliamentary representation, leaving them without a voice in the legislative process. At the time of this deliberate exclusion, the parliamentary composition was a hung parliament.
“The SALL area’s parliamentary vote was pivotal and could have potentially given the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) a majority. By disenfranchising these voters, the EC acted in a manner that suggests partisan bias and an attempt to influence the balance of power in Parliament,” the petition stated.
The petition further criticised the EC’s handling of the 2020 elections, describing it as poor and citing errors in the presidential election results, as well as claims of bias by the commissioners.
“The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, in concert with her deputies, has demonstrated gross incompetence in the performance of her duties. Announcing such a critical decision on the eve of an election (Exhibit A) suggests poor management and a failure to anticipate the impact of the Guan District’s creation on electoral arrangements,” the petitioner noted.
Additionally, the petitioner referenced past social media comments made by Dr. Bossman Asare and Dr. Peter Appiahene, accusing them of compromising the impartiality required of the Commission.
“Dr Bossman Asare made numerous social media comments on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter before his appointment, displaying overt bias against the opposition party. These statements have raised questions about his impartiality and suitability for the role.”
The petition calls on President Mahama to invoke Article 146 of the Constitution to address these concerns and restore public confidence in the electoral process. It is supported by detailed exhibits and evidence to substantiate the claims.
