Jean Mensa, deputies not new to Ghana's elections – Prof. Gyimah-Boadi

Former Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi has said newly sworn in electoral chair, Jean Adukwei Mensa is not new to the country’s electoral processes; making concerns about her ability to supervise the 2020 general elections baseless.

Mrs Jean Mensa who was sworn into office with her two deputies on August 1, has been under pressure from some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress, with many doubting her ability to govern the institution that must see to the successful outcome of the general election in December 2020.

But speaking on ’21 Minutes’ with KKB, Prof Gyimah-Boadi argues that Jean Mensa’s former position as Head of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) gives her an advantage and the needed skills to manage her new position as the EC chair.

“The new chair is not new to elections even though she has not been involved in elections from that vantage. We must also remember that these new commissioners are presiding over an institution and the institution has professionals, some that have been running elections and providing technical assistance to other countries for years," he said.

He further added that "Fortunately for her, the deputy commissioner in charge of operations is a veteran of the commission and an experienced technical hand. So I believe that if they are committed to doing a good job, learning and also conducting themselves with integrity, they will even be able to run an election even if it is going to be held next month.”

Mrs. Jean Mensa was nominated together with three others including Samuel Tettey and Dr Eric Asare Bossman by the President Akufo-Addo on July 19, to fill the gap left behind by the removal of the EC Chair, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies on the recommendation of a committee set up by the Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo to investigate alleged acts of corruption and misconduct levelled against them.