The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Eastern Regional Secretariat has strongly condemned the conduct of Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa, accusing her of undermining Ghana’s democracy and engaging in partisan activities to favour the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The statement, signed by the Regional Secretary, Baba Jamal Konneh, outlined allegations of impropriety surrounding the parliamentary election results in four constituencies in the Eastern Region.
“Jean Mensah does not mean well for Ghana. Upon her assumption as EC chair, she has been doing the bidding of the NPP, and after jointly suffering their most humiliating defeat, she is stubbornly pushing her diabolic plan to secure additional seats for the NPP.”.
Baba Jamal Konneh, NDC’s Eastern Regional Secretary
The NDC detailed specific instances of alleged irregularities in Fanteakwa North, Nsawam, Akwatia, and Suhum, claiming the EC’s actions were biased and legally questionable.
In Fanteakwa North Constituency, the NDC asserted that the Returning Officer, who holds the legal mandate to declare results, declared Hon. Apaw Wiredu Harun as the MP-elect.
However, the NDC pointed out that the EC, allegedly under Madam Jean Mensa’s directive, allowed the Deputy Returning Officer to unlawfully re-declare the NPP candidate as the winner at the Tesano Police Training School in Accra.
The NDC described this act as an “illegal redeclaration” and questioned the EC’s disregard for the Returning Officer’s authority.
“Today, Jean Mensah is telling us that the declaration of the Returning Officer who has the statutory authority to declare Parliamentary results does not hold but that of the deputy returning officer holds. Funny!!!”
Baba Jamal Konneh, NDC’s Eastern Regional Secretary
On the Nsawam Constituency, the NDC disclosed that an injunction was served on the EC to halt the declaration process, adding that despite this legal restraint, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana allegedly failed to acknowledge the court proceedings, raising concerns about the EC’s respect for judicial interventions.
The collation of results in Akwatia Constituency, according to the NDC, was conducted exclusively with NPP agents and their parliamentary candidates, while NDC agents and their candidates were excluded. The NDC questioned the fairness and transparency of this process, labelling it a violation of democratic principles.
Finally, in the Suhum constituency, the NDC highlighted irregularities in six polling stations, whose results were reportedly excluded from the final collation, asserting that despite this, the EC proceeded with the declaration in favour of the NPP.
The NDC contrasted this with instances where Jean Mensa had refused to accept declarations in constituencies where fewer polling stations were excluded, accusing her of selective application of rules to benefit the NPP.
Double Standards and Alleged Partisanship
Additionally, the NDC accused Madam Jean Mensa of displaying double standards by selectively invalidating or upholding declarations based on partisan interests.
The party noted that in 2020, Madam Jean Mensa advised the NDC to challenge results in court, but now seems to unilaterally question declarations made by Returning Officers without recourse to the judiciary.
“Today, the same person is telling us in certain places the returning officers declared under duress so therefore the declaration cannot be upheld. The question is, does it lie in her purview to determine whether the declaration of results was under duress or otherwise? Is Jean Mensah now a court of competent jurisdiction?”
Baba Jamal Konneh, NDC’s Eastern Regional Secretary
The NDC vowed to “fearlessly and radically resist” any attempts by Jean Mensa or other EC members to manipulate the parliamentary election results.
They emphasized that Jean Mensa is not the Returning Officer for parliamentary elections and urged her to respect the mandate of the designated officers.
The press release concluded with a stern warning to the EC Chairperson, stating that any attempts to alter the will of the people would be met with firm resistance.
“Let it be loudly known to her that we will fearlessly and radically resist any illegal manoeuvring by her and the other NPP-sponsored commission members of the EC to alter the course of justice,” the statement declared.
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