Akufo-Addo should have addressed nation on dismissal of EC bosses – Prof Prempeh

Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has expressed his displeasure with the manner in which the dismissal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her two deputies was announced to the country.

Prof Henry Kwasi Prempeh believes the situation was one that called for President Akufo-Addo to address the nation “clearly on the matter” instead of allowing the Information Minister do that in a press statement.

According to Prof Prempeh, “There are some duties a President must not delegate. One of them is that rare occasion in the life of the Republic when the President is called upon to exercise his unavoidable, nondiscretionary constitutional duty to announce the revocation of the appointment of the chair and members of the independent Electoral Commission following the outcome of a constitutionally-prescribed impeachment process”.

“On an occasion such as that, it is, in my considered opinion, best for the President, wearing his Head of State hat, to address the nation directly and clearly on the matter, not through any of his Ministers or by means of a press statement. This is not a routine decision or policy of Government to be announced by a Minister. This is a momentous duty and function of the President as Head of State,” he adds.

Charlotte Osei, Amadu Sulley and Georgine Opoku Amankwa were relieved of their duties for “misbehaviour and incompetence”.

The dismissal which was based on recommendations of a committee set up by the Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo to investigate alleged acts of corruption, misconduct and misbehaviour of the three was announced through a press statement signed by the Information minister Thursday night.

The announcement of their dismissal was not appreciative by all with the main opposition party, the NDC threatening to protest.

The Information Ministry on Friday held a press conference to clarify issues that led to the dismissal of the three.

Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid who addressed the press stated that “There were six allegations [made] against the chairperson [Charlotte], four against Amadu Sulley and four against Georgina Opoku Amankwa.”