The Progressive People’s Party has charged President Nana Akufo-Addo to take the reins of the ongoing investigation of Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei and her two Deputies in order to avert future altercations.
Their call comes on the back of an incident at the offices of the EC involving one of the Deputies, Georgina Opoku Amankwah on Monday and personnel from the Economic and Organised Crime Office. The latter had stormed the office to oust her from the premises.
But Madam Opoku Amankwah refused to vacate her office noting that it was illegal and hence would not budge, leaving the officials stranded for several hours. She later agreed to proceed on leave upon her lawyer’s advice.
A statement signed by the General Secretary of the Progressive People’s Party, Murtala Mohammed blamed the President for the standoff which occurred at the EC premises citing that it could have been averted if Akufo-Addo had heeded the advice of the party to ask them to step aside.
The party further stated that the President’s stance on the issue depicts leadership weakness and urged him to follow the footsteps of his predecessor John Mahama who terminated the appointment of the then CHRAJ boss, Ms. Lauretta Vivian Lamptey when a prima facie case was established against her by the then Chief Justice.
Below is the full statement
Act on EC now to avoid further commotion Mr. President – Murtala
The drama staged by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) officials led by their Acting Executive Director last Monday at the offices of the Electoral Commission (EC) to eject the Commission’s Deputy Chairperson, Ms. Georgina Opoku Amankwah from her office, was unprofessional and cannot go unnoticed. EOCO should be held responsible and immediate sanctions applied to individuals involved.
The standoff could have been avoided if the President had heeded the PPPs call to advise the three Commissioners under investigation by the Chief Justice to step aside for the ongoing investigation to end. The current situation where the other two Commissioners under investigation are at post creates an unfair advantage and puts the two at post in a conflict of interest position to temper with evidence and the investigation, as well as disrupt the work of the Commission.
The Staff of the Electoral Commission is already divided among itself - unsettling the work of the commission. We cannot be spectators when there is chaos at the premises of our electoral management body.
The sluggishness from the Presidency regarding this matter is a clear manifestation of leadership weakness. What prevents President Nana Addo from acting swiftly if indeed we voted for a CHANGE? Former President John Mahama terminated the appointment of the then CHRAJ boss, Ms. Lauretta Vivian Lamptey when a prima facie case was established against her by the then Chief Justice. This act by the previous administration was a noble act worthy of emulation.
The PPP will not relent to ask for transparency, accountability and the enforcement of rule of law.
The Progressive People’s Party wishes to reiterate its earlier position to the President, to invoke article 146 of the Constitution, to request the three (3) EC Commissioners to step aside until they are cleared of all wrong doing.
No one should be above the law and no institution should be a bunker immune against the laws of Ghana.
President Akufo-Addo