Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has dismissed claims that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) or its leadership orchestrated the petitions seeking the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, and her two deputies.
Speaking exclusively to EIB Network’s Presidential Affairs Correspondent, Abdul-Hanan Adam, Mr. Ofosu clarified that no NDC member has been involved in filing any of the petitions.
“First of all, the NDC has not filed any petitions against anybody— not the EC chairperson, the deputies and not the special prosecutor.”
He added, “No member of the NDC, as we can tell, has filed a petition in any capacity as a member of the NDC.”
The Minister further emphasized that the government is unaware of the identities of the petitioners.
“The truth is that I don’t even know who the petitioners are… It is not a matter that the president has discussed with me or any other person.”
Addressing public criticisms from NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah regarding the competence of the EC, Mr. Ofosu noted that political commentary is normal and separate from the petitions.
“It will not be the first time that public officials have been criticized… It does not mean, however, that those matters that we raised have formed the basis of this petition.”
He concluded by stressing that the petitions are based on citizen concerns, not partisan politics.
“When citizens of the land have put together a petition and alleged specific offenses… it is up to the appropriate authorities, in this instance the Chief Justice, to determine whether there is any merit at all.”
His remarks follow the submission of seven petitions to President John Mahama requesting the removal of the EC Chairperson and her deputies, Dr. Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey.
President Mahama has forwarded the petitions to the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, for preliminary review as mandated by law.
