Removal of EC boss: Akufo-Addo had no choice – Anyenini

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was bound by recommendations by the five member committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo to remove Mrs Charlotte Osei from office as Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) private legal practitioner Samson Lardy Anyenini has said.

Her two deputies: Georgina Opoku Amankwah and Amadu Sulley, were also removed from office by the president with immediate effect on Thursday, 28 June 2018.

A committee set up to investigate separate complaints brought against the three persons by Ghanaian citizens, recommended their removal.

Reacting to this development, Mr Anyenini in a Facebook post explained that Nana Akufo-Addo is bound by the recommendations of the committee.

The post read: “PRESIDENT IS BOUND BY RECOMMENDATIONS - In the Ms. Lamptey case, lawyers for Petitioner and Respondent were directed by the panel to submit written addresses after the hearing which travelled seven months despite the fact that at least two days were dedicated to ensure speedy conclusion, and the chairman insisted on fidelity to those days. We were supplied with certified copies of the record of proceedings for the purposes of the addresses. We each analyzed the evidence and made references to the relevant laws and authorities to make a case for our clients.

“The panel eventually submitted its report to the CJ and she forwarded same to the President. The President then issued the letter communicating the recommendation of her dismissal in November 2015. The report is submitted to the CJ because it is the CJ who sets up the committee. President, like the CJ, is bound by the recommendations and cannot alter anything in the report or act contrary to same. The wisdom in keeping the President in the picture from commencement to completion is to afford him (the appointing authority) the opportunity of knowing what is happening to his/her appointee, and also to perform the ceremony of issuing the letter of dismissal.”

The committee was set up in 2017 after some staff of the EC petitioned Nana Akufo-Addo to remove Mrs Osei from office over allegations of fraud and financial malfeasance as well as abuse of office.

Mrs Osei also counter-alleged corruption against his deputies insisting that she has done nothing wrong and only being hounded out because she is fighting internal graft.

The president, in accordance with the constitution, forwarded the petition to the Chief Justice to look into the matter.