Jean Mensa behaves like she’s running an NGO – Haruna Iddrisu

“The Electoral Commissioner, she sometimes comes to us as if she’s still running an NGO.”

That is how the minority leader in parliament has chosen to describe the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa for her apparent failure to heed to several calls to halt the compilation of the new voter register.

Haruna Iddrissu said from all indication, the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission in the face of the deadly coronavirus has failed to recognize the severity of the pandemic thus defying signals to set a new date for the compilation process to begin.

He said the EC Chairperson ought to be reminded about the pivotal role she plays in the governance process of the country and the possibility of ploughing the country into chaos if she fails to administer her role in all fairness.

“…Let her be reminded that she’s running the Electoral Commission of Ghana, a state institution expected to be independent within the remit of Article 45 of the 1995 constitution and that what we know is that the constitution provides a terminal end to the mandate of the president and members of parliament after every four years…” Mr. Iddrisu said at a press confab, Thursday.

While expressing shock at the EC’s blatant disregard for the existing voters’ register for the upcoming general polls, he said Ghana remains the only country “that eight months into an election is still doubtful of what electoral roll would be used for that purpose…”

He posited that, the Electoral Commission’s disregard for the lives of Ghanaians by going ahead to set a new date for voters’ register compilation and the subsequent defence mounted by government officials is utterly shocking and condemnable.

In April this year, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George together with some members of the NDC interrupted an internal meeting of staff of the Electoral Commission after he secured an ex- parte injunction.

In view of this, Iddrisu has indicated that the EC’s decision to defy restriction on movement proves the ill motive and disrespect the Jean Mensa administration harbours for Ghanaians.

He said: “It is equally shocking that Government officials are publicly justifying the irresponsible conduct of the Electoral Commission in defying the restrictions imposed by the President even in the face of a court injunction secured by our colleague, Hon. Sam George…”

“All these come at a time the EC's plan to begin its infamous and life-threatening registration in June this year has been exposed after a presentation the EC made to ECOWAS leaked. It is worth noting that the EC's timetable as presented to ECOWAS remains unknown to Parliament and opposition political parties.”