ASEPA demands immediate resignation of EC chair

Policy think tank, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) is demanding the immediate resignation of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa.

ASEPA says if the EC boss fails to do the needful, it will be forced to petition the President to sack her for breaching a constitutional mandate to declare her assets upon resumption of office.

The demand follows investigations by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ, that found the EC Chair, guilty for non-disclosure of assets and liabilities, a mandatory requirement for all public officials (Article 71 Office Holders).

“Jean Mensah took office on the 1st August 2018 and as at the time we filed our petition on the 12th December 2019, 16months after taking office had failed to comply with the provisions of Article 286,” ASEPA said in a statement.

The Executive Director of ASEPA, Mensah Thompson has threatened to petition president Nana Akufo-Addo to remove the EC boss from office if she fails to bow out honourably.

The petition filed on December 12, 2019, was against three officers, Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah, the EC chair and her deputy, Dr Bossman Asare.

Find below the full release by ASEPA

PRESS RELEASE

CHRAJ FINDS JEAN MENSA GUILTY OF ASSET NON-DISCLOSURE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, ASEPA TO PETITION PRESIDENT AKUFO ADDO FOR HER REMOVAL

Since December last year, ASEPA has been involved in a number of Asset declaration campaigns.

Three petitions were sent to CHRAJ against three high ranking Public Officials (Article 71 Office Holders) namely.

Justice Anim Yeboah

Jean Adukwei Mensah

Bossman Asare.

CHRAJ recently issued a report on Justice Anim Yeboah and today it has released its report on the case against Jean Mensa.

Article 286 provides that within three months upon assumption of office, all public officials in such determined categories must declare their assets and liabilities with the Auditor General.

Such declarations are done at the end of every four-year tenure.

Jean Mensah took office on the 1st August 2018 and as at the time we filed our petition on the 12th December 2019, 16months after taking office had failed to comply with the provisions of Article 286.

This is a clear exhibition of misconduct and a violation of the laws of Ghana by a public officer.

In the case of Article 71 Office holders, the law says in such instances Article 146 must be invoked.

So tomorrow the provisions of Article 146, would be invoked by filing a petition for the removal from office of Jean Mensah for breaching the Asset declaration laws of Ghana.

Remember the previous Commissioner was removed from office for allegedly breaching some provisions of the Public Procurement Laws of Ghana, well Jean Mensa is in total violation of the Asset Declaration Law and same remedies must apply.

We believe Jean Mensa is not fit to lead the Electoral Commission of Ghana into a major elections when she is compromised and has demonstrated a clear disregard for the Constitution that empowers her.

We are therefore calling for her immediate resignation to save herself from the ordeal of procedural removal.

Signed:

Mensah Thompson

Executive Director,

ASEPA