Injunction suit filed to stop appointment of new EC Chair

A Ghanaian citizen, Fafali Nyonator, has filed a suit for an interlocutory injunction at the Supreme Court to restrain President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from appointing a new Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) until her earlier suit is determined by the court.

Ms Nyonator had earlier filed a suit at the same court challenging the legality of the processes that led to the dismissal of Mrs Charlotte Osei.

Sources within the presidency have hinted that the president will soon name a new EC chair.

Mrs Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwah were dismissed by President Akufo-Addo on grounds of incompetence and procurement breaches at the election management body.

A committee set up by Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, to investigate separate complaints brought against the three persons by Ghanaian citizens, recommended their removal.

In 2017, the five-member committee investigated alleged acts of corruption involving Mrs Osei and her two deputies.

Some staff of the EC petitioned Nana Akufo-Addo to remove Mrs Osei from office over allegations of fraud and financial malfeasance as well as abuse of office. Mrs Osei also counter-alleged corruption against her deputies insisting that she has done nothing wrong and only being hounded out because she is fighting internal graft. The president, in accordance with the constitution, forwarded the petition to the Chief Justice to look into the matter.

Attached is the full writ.