The Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development (CDS) has formally appealed to President John Mahama to refrain from initiating any process to remove the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, along with her deputies.
This appeal comes in reaction to two separate petitions—one from the Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement Ghana and another from Daniel Ofosu-Appiah—calling for the dismissal of Jean Mensa, her deputies Dr. Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey, and another commissioner, Dr. Peter Atuahene.
As a form of counter-petition, the CDS is urging the President to reject these calls, warning that such actions could harm Ghana’s democratic progress.
The civil society group referenced the controversial removal of the previous EC leadership in 2017, labeling it as politically influenced. The CDS cautions that repeating such actions could foster public perception of political interference in the EC, thereby weakening its independence.
“The current calls for the removal of Jean Mensa and her team are rooted in that unfortunate precedent,” the CDS stated in its petition. “If this cycle continues, it could destabilize the foundations of Ghana’s Fourth Republic and compromise the Commission’s autonomy permanently.”
The CDS emphasized the critical need for the Electoral Commission to remain free from political manipulation, arguing that preserving its independence is more important than any short-term political considerations.
“If the current administration sets a precedent by dissolving the EC, future governments may follow suit, initiating a harmful cycle of political interference and eroding Ghana’s democratic gains,” the petition warned.
According to the CDS, rejecting the removal petitions will help maintain public trust in the Electoral Commission and avoid turning it into a politically controlled institution that changes with every new government.
In conclusion, the CDS called on President Mahama to preserve the EC’s independence and avoid setting a precedent that would allow future administrations to dismantle the Commission for political reasons.
