Move To Oust EC Boss In Full Swing ...As PNF Invokes Article 146 Of Constitution

The Progressive Nationalist Forum’s Spokesperson, Richard Nyamah has submitted a Petition invoking Article 146 for due processes towards removal from office of Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mrs. Charlotte Osei.

Founder of the anti-corruption PNF has, since blowing the whistle on the EC boss early January, gathered the necessary evidence to make the case that Mrs. Charlotte Osei’s conduct of serving in and being paid by two State entities flies in the face of the letter and spirit of the constitutional prohibition of such conduct by specified special officers particularly of Independent Constitutional Bodies.

He has, in accordance with law, forwarded a three-page fifteen-paragraph petition to His Excellency the President John Mahama for onward transmission to Her Ladyship the Chief Justice to commence the processes upon a prima facie determination being made.

According to Mr. Nyamah, the EC boss’ belated resignation from Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited (a Limited Liability Company with 100% Ghana government shareholding) smacks of an admission of the breach of the prohibition in Article 44(4) of the Constitution.

He mentioned that the Constitution of Ghana was against such acts of serious misconduct, adding that he looked forward to the President to demonstrate that the EC Boss exercised grave misjudgment and violated the Constitutional requirements of her office with “terms and conditions of service as a Justice of the Court of Appeal” and is therefore no longer fit to remain in that august office.

He also averred that the best interest of Ghana must always be served by all citizens.

The Progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF) mounted pressure on the chairperson of the Electoral Commission to resign for holding two positions recently.

According to the PNF, the action by the EC Chair Charlotte Osei breaches Article 44, Clause 4 of the 1992 n constitution which states that “the chairman and the two deputy chairmen of the commission shall not, while they hold office on the commission, hold any other public office.”

The group claims that Mrs Charlotte Osei, as well as being the chairman of the Electoral Commission, was also a board member of the Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited.

The Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited also explained that the Chairperson of Electoral Commission, Mrs. Charlotte Osei, was no longer a director of the company.

Reacting to the claims of the PNF, the Secretary of Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited, Madam Jessica Allotey, noted that the EC boss stopped being a director as of the end of December 2015.