Charlotte Osei and two EC deputies sacked

The chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa have been removed from office with immediate effect.

Their removal was based on recommendations from the committee that investigated corruption and misconduct allegations against them.

Graphic Online gathers that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo met Mrs Charlotte Osei, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa earlier Thursday and handed over the dismissal letter to them.

Related: My two deputies are ‘grossly insubordinate and rude’ – Charlotte Osei

Some concerned workers of the Electoral Commission in July 2017 petitioned the President and the Chief Justice to begin impeachment processes against the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei.

They accused Mrs Osei of taking unilateral decisions without recourse to the appropriate departments of the EC, even her deputies.

The group also accused the EC Chair of engaging in fraudulent activities, citing her decision to cancel a contract awarded to Superlock Technologies Limited (STL) to supply and manage Biometric Voter Registration machines (BVRs) and the Biometric Voter Devices (BVDs), as well as her directive for the payment of $76,000 to IT firm, Dream Oval.

Related: Amadu Sulley to Charlotte Osei; Stop sidelining me

Following that, a counter-argument ensued between Mrs Osei and her two deputies that portrayed that all was not well between the three topmost commissioners at the EC.

A counter petition was also filed for the removal of the two other commissioners, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa.

Read also: EC Commissioner sheds office secrets in leaked audio

After about a year of investigations, the Chief Justice's committee handed over its report to the presidency.

A statement signed and issued by the Minister of Information, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said: "The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has, on Thursday, 28th June, 2018, removed from office the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Ms. Georgina Opoku Amankwah, with immediate effect."

"This was after the Committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, pursuant to Article 146(4) of the Constitution, to investigate separate complaints brought against the three persons by Ghanaian citizens, recommended their removal from office."

Read also: The 27 claims made against Charlotte Osei and the responses 

The statement added: "The Committee recommended their removal on the basis of stated misbehaviour and incompetence, pursuant to Article 146(1) of the Constitution."

"The provisions of Article 146(9) of the Constitution require the President of the Republic to act in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee."

It said President Akufo-Addo has directed the three persons to hand over their respective schedules to the Director for Human Resource and General Services of the Electoral Commission, and thanked them for their services to the nation.

Related: Charlotte Osei, accusers face C.J. at 1pm

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

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