Is Kweku Baako being honest when it comes to discussing Mrs Charlotte Osei?

Much as I like and appreciate the political savviness of Mr Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, the Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, especially during intellectual debate or discourse on Ghana politics on radio programmes, he is of late proving himself doubtful when it comes to issues involving the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei.

He seems to be the only stranger in Ghana who does not know the malicious machinations of Mrs Charlotte Osei since she became the Chair of Ghana’s Electoral Commission. He has always been defending her even when the majority of Ghanaians have come to the realisation and conclusion that the woman is not up to anything good.

Yes, it is not always that the majority is right as there are exceptions to every rule. However, the propensity at which Mr Kweku Baako defends Charlotte Osei in spite of her apparent commissions that are often at variance with the rules of her office, thus, the Electoral Commission, baffles me a lot. To be honest with him, he is depicting utter hypocrisy and dishonesty in his unrestrained defence of Charlotte Osei.

I heard him say some day on the radio at Peace FM that Charlotte Osei is his relative. Could it be the reason behind his resolute determination to defend her when even a child of six could tell when the woman errs?

If the woman could go her own way to abuse her position by disrespecting the laws of her office to do what she wants when she wants because of her political affiliation as the unfolding evidence indicates, how honest is Kweku Baako to claiming the woman has done nothing wrong?

There are statutory laws and company regulations which every employee must obey them or else one can be accused of gross misconduct depending on the degree of how far the person has gone in disregarding those rules. Committing gross misconduct can be a sackable offence in any reputable company.

When it comes to Charlotte Osei, did she operate within the confinements of the Electoral Commission rules? From the allegations made against her by her two deputies, she had personally without consulting the others as is required by the procedural regulations at the EC, spent millions of Ghana Cedis to partition her office. She has spent about GHS3.9 million or something within that region.

Additionally, she single-handedly signed a contract to the tune of about GHs39 million or so with a company for the printing of some pink sheets or other such documents for Election 2016 without submitting it for tender as is required by the governing rules.

Could the price not have been inflated to serve her selfish interests? If she had that right of sole-sourcing to and beyond that sum of money, her two deputies would not have levelled that charge against her.

In all these and other equally grave commissions which in a layman’s view may amount to crimes, Mr Kweku Baako sees nothing wrong and still thinks Charlotte Osei is right.

Could he please tell me when one could be alleged to have committed financial loss to the state? Could anyone in the public service spend any money anyhow without being accountable to anyone?

Regardless of any efforts made in defence of, or supporting, Charlotte Osei, as a relative by Mr Kweku Baako will not wash. When could one be accused of corruption? Is it a case of “3k3t3 deE ne bo dwe, na nyanyankyere deE 3nk3?” – I am asking Mr Baako.

The quoted Akan proverb above translates into English as, “When it is the crab, you easily go for it but let it go when it is a scorpion”. This means, when it is any other person you will punish them but when it is your favourite, you let the person go despite the gravity of their offence.

This is my opinion about Mr Baako and I am entitled to it. He does not seem to be fair to Ghanaians and to other people who have committed similar offences and are soon likely to be arraigned before the Independent Prosecutor.