Ghana’s Electoral Commissioner, madam Charlotte Osei, has gone through a lot of frustrating circumstances after taking over from the then former Chairman, Dr. Kwadjo Afari Gyan.
Mrs. Charlotte Kesson Smith Osei, appointed by former President John Dramani Mahama, took over as the chairman of the Electoral Commission in June 2015.
She is the first woman to supervise election proceedings in Ghana, has attracted lots of controversies and lapses in her reign.
The ruling New Patriotic party government, then in opposition, took the first bite of criticizing the woman, thereby making her rule a hell. She was later described as an incompetent leader to supervise free and fair elections.
Ghanacrusader.com brings you some of the disheartening situation the EC chairman has been through and still keeping body and soul together.
Madam Charlotte Osei was first taken to court by the ruling NPP government for changing the normal election’s date from December 7, to November 7.
She was also criticized heavily for changing the Electoral commission’s logo to a Turkey-based career counseling institution. The then Director of elections of the NPP, Martin Agyei Mensah-Korsah, described the new logo as an embarrassment. The Deputy General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Asani Tanoh, also described it as evil and demonic.
The EC chairman was also accused of indirectly extorting monies form media houses to reports on scenes of the 2016 general elections. The development which attracted lots of concerns among politicians and the general public, witnessed the multiple award-winning host of Peace FM’s Morning Show, Kwame Sefa Kayi, blasting the EC for such an unqualified agenda.
He said, “My problem with Electoral Commission is that I think it’s shameful that you’ll charge the media to cover the elections. We’re not a very sincere people. We would like to cover things up.”
Madam Charlotte Osei was also blamed for using old biometric machines, for causing lots of havoc in the 2016 polls. The situation which halted voting in many centres of the country also kept the majority of voters in queues for long hours.
Recently honoured with Women of Courage Award in United State, was also sabotaged of having secret affairs with former president John Dramani Mahama. She was first accused by the NPP outspoken politician, Kennedy Agyepong, for wetting the bed of the formal president. Followed by the minister of Gender, Otiko Afisa Djaba, also indicating that, the EC chairman, exchanged sex for the position.
Madam Osei was also accused of auctioning about 40 state owed vehicles as low as GHC83,000 to officers of the commissioners without proper documentation. This brought her before the Public Accounts Committee to explain to the board why the vehicles were disposed of with proper papers.
The Electoral Commission chairman, who is currently battling to maintain her position, is currently in court over an alleged acts of corruption at the commission.
Her two Deputies, Amadu Sulley (in charge of Operations) and Georgina Amankwa (in charge of Corporate Services) are currently responding suit against their dismissal.
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