The Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development (CDS) has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to reject recent petitions calling for the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs. Jean Mensa, and her deputies, Dr. Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey, as well as Dr. Peter Atuahene, a member of the Commission.
The petitions in question were submitted by the Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement Ghana and an individual, Daniel Ofosu-Appiah, who are pushing for the dismissal of the EC leadership.
In what seems to be a counter-effort, the CDS is urging President Mahama not to initiate any steps toward the removal of these officials, warning of the long-term damage such an action could cause to Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Referencing the controversial dismissal of the former EC Chair and deputies in 2017, which many believed was politically motivated, the CDS warned against repeating what it described as a harmful precedent.
“Those demanding the removal of Jean Mensa and her team today are motivated by that unfortunate event. If this pattern continues, it risks deeply undermining the independence of the Electoral Commission and the stability of the Fourth Republic,” the petition stated.
The organization stressed the importance of safeguarding the independence of democratic institutions from political influence.
It cautioned that dissolving the current Commission could set a troubling standard, enabling future administrations to follow suit for political convenience.
“The foundational principle that electoral commissions must be insulated from political interference should take precedence over all other considerations.”
“Any move to remove the current leadership could severely damage public trust in the EC and compromise the credibility of Ghana’s electoral processes,” the CDS argued.
The Centre urged President Mahama to prioritize the preservation of the Electoral Commission’s independence and to resist any actions that may erode public confidence or undermine the nation’s democratic gains.