NDC Has Prepared Petitioners for the Removal of EC Boss – Nana B Alleges
Henry Nana Boakye, also known as Nana B, the National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has blamed the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for masterminding a coordinated move to demand the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa. The NDC, according to him, has written and rallied petitioners to challenge the leadership of the EC ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Speaking on an interview on a local radio station, Nana B clarified that the NDC's actions are all part of a larger scheme to tarnish the image of the Electoral Commission and destabilize the electoral process to create the grounds needed for contesting the results of the next elections.
"The NDC is scared of a free and fair election because they know Ghanaians have rejected them. What they are now attempting to do is to get people to petition for the removal of Madam Jean Mensa so that they can question the credibility of the EC," Nana B alleged.
He explained that the attacks and criticisms leveled against the EC, particularly since Jean Mensa's appointment, have been politically motivated. He stated that the NDC has never accepted reforms brought in by the current leadership of the EC, even though those reforms have gained international praise.
Their motive is simple – discredit Jean Mensa, get her removed or undermine her office, and turn the 2024 elections into a mess. That's their only plan because they know that they cannot win any election fairly," Nana B emphasized.
In recent weeks, there have been reports of some civil society groups and individuals signing petitions demanding the removal of the EC chairperson, alleging bias and incompetence on her part. Nana B, however, insists that these actions are not spontaneous but carefully orchestrated by the NDC.
He also argued that the NDC's relationship with the Electoral Commission has been one of consistent hostility, dating back to the 2020 elections when they refused to accept the ultimate result despite a number of independent observers verifying the process to be free and fair.
According to Nana B, the NDC leadership, headed by former President John Dramani Mahama, have been at the forefront of these efforts, persistently claiming bias on the part of the Electoral Commission without adducing substantial evidence.
"What the NDC is attempting to do now is set the grounds to discredit the 2024 election outcome if they lose, just as they did in 2020. This time, they seek to take it a notch higher by attempting to have the EC boss removed ahead of the polls. Ghanaians must wake up to this evil agenda," he cautioned.
Nana B called on all stakeholders, including religious bodies, civil society organizations, and the international community, to condemn what he described as attempts by the NDC to destroy democratic institutions.
He called on Ghanaians to rally behind the Electoral Commission and offer it the necessary support to enable it to fulfill its mandate without intimidation or undue political pressure.
"The EC, under the leadership of Jean Mensa, has introduced great reforms that have enhanced the credibility of our elections. From a new voters' register to the use of biometric technology and more transparency in the way election results are transmitted, these are gains we must protect," Nana B said.
Concurrently, the NDC has dismissed such claims, insisting that its onslaught on the EC is grounded on grave concerns about transparency, fairness, and accountability. One senior NDC member who pleaded anonymity described Nana B's claims as an attempt to immunize the EC from legitimate criticism.
We do believe in free and fair elections. However, when the institution responsible for managing elections shows such brazen bias and incompetence, it is our duty to raise alarm," the NDC official stated.
With political temperatures rising in preparation for the 2024 elections, the scandal involving the role and integrity of the Electoral Commission is likely to get worse. It is uncertain if any petition will succeed in having Jean Mensa removed, but it is obvious that Ghana's politics is set for another fiery electoral season.
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