A former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has advised President-elect John Dramani Mahama against appointing a new Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson.
Prof Adei has asserted that the incumbent Chairperson, Jean Mensa must be allowed to continue her work despite the change of government.
“We have progressed in our electoral process such that even if you make Akufo-Addo or Mahama as the head, nobody can change the outcome. Charlotte Osei was appointed by Mahama and she was there but he still lost,” he said.
In an interview on Accra-based TV3, he stated that the nation must seek to strengthen its institutions and thereby removing people along political lines set bad precedents.
“If we can prove that you have gone beyond certain fundamental issues then it’s fair. It is easier to prove corruption but not issues of incompetence so if she[Jean] has done wrong and we can prove it, we can remove her but not because she was appointed by NPP.
“For Charlotte Osei, if she was removed because she was appointed by Mahama, some of us would have resisted it but the case was corruption and procurement breaches and nobody could have defended her,” he noted.
However, he noted that if Mrs Mensa decides to resign on her own, there would be no problem with that.
He further urged the incoming administration to focus on strengthening institutional frameworks rather than seeking to make wholesale changes to key leadership positions.
“We must find ways to deal with lapses without destroying our institutions. I would not change an Electoral Commissioner because she is not on my side. We have come a long way.
“Hopefully If by what has gone on, Jean may decide to resign herself. We must find a way of not destroying our institutions but find ways of making it better,” he added.
Professor Adei’s comments come amidst calls for Jean Mensa to resign or be removed from office as a new government takes over on January 7, 2025.
