Removing a Chief Justice, Electoral Commissioner for political convenience damages Ghana's democracy - Prof Adei

Professor Stephen Adei, a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has said it was not a good public administration practice to start contemplating and aiming at removing a Chief Justice and Electoral commissioners without prima facie evidence the moment a new government is elected into office.

He has therefore cautioned President-elect, John Dramani Mahama against removing the Chief Justice and the Electoral Commissioner for political reasons, describing such an action as "disastrous" and potentially damaging to Ghana’s democracy.

He was speaking in an interview on TV3 on Sunday [Dec 22, 2024].

Prof Adei highlighted the dangers of politicising key state institutions and their leadership, emphasising the need to uphold democratic norms and institutional independence.

“It would be disastrous, especially at the start of his term, for President Mahama to remove the Chief Justice or the Electoral Commissioner simply because they were appointed by the outgoing administration,” he said. 

He added that “This practice, if continued, will not bode well for Ghana’s future. We must focus on strengthening our institutions, not destroying them.”

Prof Adei argued that the judiciary, as a cornerstone of democracy, must remain free from partisan interference. 

He stressed that any action to remove the Chief Justice must follow due constitutional processes, such as impeachment, and be based on clear evidence of misconduct or incompetence.

“If you touch the Chief Justice through political means rather than due process, the nation will pay a heavy price,” Prof Adei warned. “It’s not just about the individual but the undermining of the system itself.”

On the Electoral Commission, he noted that any attempt to remove its leadership must be rooted in provable wrongdoing. 

He cited the removal of former EC Chair Charlotte Osei as an example, explaining that her exit was justified by allegations of procurement breaches rather than mere political disagreements.

“It’s much easier to prove corruption than incompetence,” Prof Adei remarked. “If the Electoral Commissioner has violated fundamental principles, it must be proven. Otherwise, dismissing them because of their appointment by a previous government undermines institutional credibility.”

He further cautioned against establishing a precedent where each new administration replaces key institutional leaders for political convenience, calling it a dangerous trend that could erode public trust and harm Ghana’s democratic foundations.

“Leaders must act in the national interest,” Prof Adei urged. “We need to deal with lapses in our systems without destroying the very institutions that uphold our democracy.”

His comment follows calls from NDC members for a possible institutional changes following the 2024 elections.