Jean Mensa – The fire and the quenching water

The barrage of political bullets against the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Madam Jean Mensa, has become a cliche of members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The Electoral Commission is not beyond reproach since it is managed by humans who are albeit fallible. Nonetheless, critics should measure the level of animadversion.

Jean Mensa has been on the chopping board for attending a soiree organised by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in December, 2018.

I find her presence at the soiree tactless despite being invited alongside other women occupying enviable positions within and without Ghana.

The argument of the National Democratic Congress is that her presence meant that she is a sympathiser of the ruling political party and cannot be trusted as an impartial umpire to officiate in the 2020 general elections.

Fetchingly, the NDC must raise an alarm on that but the facts at the soiree makes it a pointless issue.

1. The soiree was not clandestinely organised and was open to the media.

2. Reporters from mainstream media houses were there and covered the event.

3. Furthermore, the soiree was graced by women ambassadors from Columbia, Turkey, South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Mexico and others.

4. Notable amongst the aforementioned were; Mrs Francess Virginia Anderson, Sierra Leonean Ambassador, Madam Genevieve A. Kennedy, Liberian Ambassador and Madam Diana Acconcia, the European Union Ambassador.

5. These same distinguished guests were invited by the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, Mr. John Dramani Mahama in February to “discuss” the 31st January 2019 By-election violence at Ayawaso West Wuogon.

If Mahama trusted their judgment then why can’t the NDC trust that the soiree was not meant for only NPP women appointees but women holding high-level positions to break bread at the end of the calendar year?

It is therefore conclusively safe to say that the refrain and scripting of Jean Mensa being in the pocket of the ruling government is to say the least ho-hum to our ears.