Hearing into the alleged abuse of power and corruption scandals that have rocked the Electoral Commission (EC) will begin today, Kasapafmonline.com has gathered.
Chairperson of the EC, Charlotte Osei, and two of her deputies, Georgina Opoku-Amankwah, who is in charge of Corporate Services, and Amadu Sulley, in charge of Operations, are expected to appear before the five-member committee chaired by a Supreme Court Judge for questioning relating to separate petitions filed against them.
The appearance of the trio before the committee follows the completion of preliminary investigations into their alleged conduct of abuse of power and corruption.
In August, 2017, the three EC bosses were directed by the Chief Justice to file their official responses to the allegations levelled against them in the various petitions.
It is not clear who among the three EC bosses will appear first before the Committee.
Deep throat sources at the corridors of the Electoral Commission say all the three are poised to defending themselves when they appear before the committee on charges of corruption and abuse of power levelled against them.
Several infractions in the award of contracts at the EC prior to the 2016 general elections is expected to feature prominently during the trial, sources familiar with how the trial will proceed told Kasapafmonline.com.
First Petition
The three EC bosses have been at loggerheads for sometime, a situation many believe, is jeopardizing the operations of the EC.
The trial by the committee, was therefore, was spurred by a petition sent to the Presidency by Lawyer Maxwell Opoku-Agyemang, who was acting on behalf of some unnamed staff of the Commission, who had sought to trigger impeachment proceedings against Madam Charlotte Osei.
In the petition, Charlotte Osei was accused among other things, spending GH¢3.9million to partition her office, receipt of a bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser from the John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress government, and spending about US$14million for district offices when the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) had authorized her to use only US$7.5million.
Second Petition
Later, another petition was again filed against Charlotte Osei by Lawyer Douglas Seidu on grounds of breach of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 633) as amended, gross financial mismanagement as well as conflict of interest.
Lawyer Seidu alleged that Charlotte Osei put herself in a conflict of interest situation when she awarded a contract to Aerovote Security Printing (Ghana) Limited to print the pink sheets used for the 2016 general elections.
Lawyer Seidu argued that Charlotte Osei has strong business links with the Director of Aerovote and that the EC Chairperson had long arranged the deal even before the procurement process opened.
He further claimed that Charlotte Osei ‘Unilaterally’ awarded contracts worth GH¢249,018,895.03 and US$71,406,388.80 in breach of procurement processes and also awarded various contracts, including the printing of letterheads and a logo for the Commission which amounted to gross financial mismanagement.
Fight Back
But the EC boss through her lawyer, Thaddeus Sory hit back, insisting that she had not been corrupt or abused her office.
Charlotte Osei then accused her two deputies, Georgina Opoku-Amankwah and Amadu Sulley, of deliberately scheming to frustrate her stay in office.
She also accused Georgina Opoku-Amankwah of signing contracts worth US$40million without her knowledge and authorization between May and September 2015.
Amadu Sulley was also not spared either as she accused him of illegally transferring votes in the run up to the 2016 general elections.
Further to that, Amadu Sulley, allegedly pocketed huge amounts of money from some political parties.
Counter Petition
Following her allegations, another group whose identity is not known sent a counter petition to the President to investigate her two deputies for allegedly abusing their offices and corruption.
No Wrongdoing
Both Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku-Amankwah denied any wrongdoing. They accused Charlotte Osei of being the problem at the Electoral Commission.
Source: kasapafmonline.com
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The obvious truth is that the NDC by it's expertise in political propaganda has studied Ghanaians very well for the fearful and peace-loving that we are, and hence always tries to play the intimadation card against Ghanaians to get what they want. But the other truth is that fortunately for us, the ordinary Ghanaian even in 'Tiwuy3krom' (blockheaded township) has now become enlightened about the propaganda gimmicks and schemes of the NDC that they engage in to hold Ghana to ransom. But the NDC must know that Ghana has come of age and that their professional propaganda and bugabuga political antics to bulldoze their way through national issues is obsolete, and therefore must put their acts together and come out with a different strategy that will appeal to the now enlightened Ghanaian electorate. In connection with this Charlotte Osei case I believe the attempt by the NDC to intimidate the judiciary and Ghanaians for that matter, is not akin to their position during the great Atuguba case that was occasioned by their wise advice for the NPP to go to court. Indeed, the NPP and the then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo went to court. Yes, the NDC had their way and the historic fact still remains that Ghana; our beloved country which is free forever, in Nkrumah's voice, did not burn. So why does the NDC think Ghana will burn this time over a constitutionally mandated ruling that might disfavor Madam Charlotte Osei. And in any case if it does, the NDC who are the best apostles of the GO TO COURT doctrine would have their own doctrine to adhere to because Ghana; our beloved country which is free forever will not burn.
The NPP govt must audit the EC regularly.... There is so much corruption going on there. They cannot hide behind their independence to avoid being audited by the Auditor General who audits all government organisations. They are not financially independent but depends on public money and must therefore be accountable.
Where is NDC's minority leader who was just blowing HOT AIR when thus news first broke out? Incompetent even in opposition. NDC don't read!
May the good God continue to expose these three gang members amen
The battle surely is the Lords. When you group ***barred word*** and nation wreckers together it take the Lord to expose their evil motives and practices. How on earth could we have been privy to these nefarious activities hat it not been for the Lord. For me the Lord He is God.