Is the independence of the Electoral Commission and Judiciary jeopardised?

President Nana Akufo-Addo's 2018 decision to remove Charlotte Osei from her role as chair of the Electoral Commission because of allegations of procurement violations was something I strongly disagreed with.

I believe that this action sets a concerning precedent for the abuse of executive power and seems overly harsh.

A similar situation is currently in place, with the Chief Justice on suspension pending the completion of an investigation.

Given the circumstances, I tend to believe that the Chief Justice will be fired. However, I do question whether all of the accusations' whispers really demand such harsh actions. To be safe, I am not assuming I know more than the President or the Council of State, nor am I implying that I am familiar with the substance of the three petitions. But if it is all about the auditor general's report, then my moral opposition to Charlotte Osei's dismissal remains intact.

It is crucial to keep in mind that, before the 2016 elections, prominent NPP members publicly pledged to remove the EC Chairperson, and unfortunately, they succeeded in doing so.

Charlotte Osei's removal process was controversial as well, with faceless petitioners and her inability to obtain a copy of the petition despite her request for one.

Parallel to this, some NDC members threatened to remove the Chief Justice before the 2024 elections.

These incidents suggest that politically charged key institutions are becoming more common.

These kinds of acts may continue until the 1992 constitution is reviewed, which is presently happening, or it may be altered entirely, as Messer's Oliver has advocated, in order to address these issues.

We must protect the independence and integrity of our institutions in order to maintain public trust and promote good governance.

Until the 1992 constitution is analysed, the political class will always hold greater power than the legislative and executive branches, even though this is not the case in practice.

Nana Oduro Nimapau is my name