'Fine lady' Jean Mensa 'more NPP' than neutral; 'she can't win' - Bagbin

“There is no way” Mrs Jean Mensa will win at the Electoral Commission if she eventually becomes the Chairperson, flag bearer-hopeful of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alban Bagbin, has said.

According to the Nadowli-Kaleo MP, although a “fine lady”, Mrs Mensa’s bias towards the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will be her undoing in the gallows of politics.

“She is a fine lady, she is one of the fine ladies that, once again, we are sending to the gallows of politics. There is no way she can win in this matter because we have worked with her for many years and we know she is more of an NPP than an independent-minded civil society player.

“The NDC had, on a number of occasions, boycotted activities of the Institute of Economic Affairs because of this perception. So, if you are minded to bring such a person, you need to do more consultation and this has not been done.

“And, once again, this fine lady is also going to meet the wrath of politicians and is not fair”, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament told Moro Awudu on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Thursday, 26 July 2018.



President Nana Akufo-Addo, on Monday 23 July 2018, named the Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), as the new Chair to replace Mrs Osei, whom he sacked along with her two deputies Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwah, over procurement breaches and incompetence, per the recommendations of a committee set up by Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo to probe the three commissioners.

Apart from Mrs Mensa, the newly-appointed deputies are a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Eric Asare Bossman; and Samuel Tettey, Director of Electoral services in charge of elections at the Electoral Commission. Also Ms Adjoa Esuama Abrefa, a corporate legal practitioner with specialisation in land property acquisition, was named as a member of the commissioner.



Mr Bagbin also said in the interview with Moro Awudu that Mrs Osei erred in the manner she went about her differences with her two deputies at election management body while in office.

Speaking about the turn of events so far, Mr Bagbin said: “I thought the lady [Charlotte Osei] also erred as the leader when the petition against her led her to also turn to attack her deputies and throughout that kind of infighting, did not create a very conducive managerial environment for the commission to move on.

“So, the removal of the three of them on that basis, alone, would have been justified but as to the legalities, that one the court will determine that”, Mr Bagbin told Moro Awudu on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Thursday, 26 July 2018.