The controversy surrounding the alleged attempts to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo has taken a new turn with NPP loyalist Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong claiming that the move is only a stepping stone toward a bigger objective.
According to Sarpong, the real target of these maneuvers is not the Chief Justice herself but Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), whom the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is determined to oust from office.
“Jean Mensa is the one they are hellbent to remove from office with her deputies. The Chief Justice, who is law-abiding and would never allow the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana to be sidestepped, would make sure that the laws of the land are respected.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
Accordingly, Sarpong asserted that the NDC’s attempt to remove Justice Torkornoo is a calculated strategy aimed at paving the way for Jean Mensa’s dismissal.
He argued that Mensa has become the NDC’s biggest obstacle, and the party believes that without the Chief Justice in place, their path to removing her would be much easier.
The alleged plan, he suggested, is an elaborate scheme designed to sidestep constitutional barriers and legal provisions that currently protect the EC boss and her deputies.
The political landscape has long been fraught with tension between the NDC and Jean Mensa, with the party consistently accusing her of bias in electoral matters.
Since her appointment by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, the opposition party has questioned her neutrality, often suggesting that she serves the interests of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to Sarpong, the intensity of this animosity stems from the controversial removal of former EC Chairperson Charlotte Osei during Akufo-Addo’s administration, a move that the NDC still finds difficult to accept.
“The removal of She Who Must be Obeyed, Charlotte Osei, still pains them to the core, and, therefore, they have been exploring ways to offload Jean Mensa and her deputies as well.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
Sarpong elaborated on the circumstances surrounding Charlotte Osei’s dismissal, emphasizing that her removal was based on procurement breaches reported by her own deputies.
He insisted that Jean Mensa, on the other hand, has not committed any legal infractions that would warrant such action.
“What they forget to realize is the fact that Charlotte Osei’s removal was based on procurement breaches reported by her own deputies, igniting petition upon petition being written to the Presidency for her removal.
“Indeed, she had breached procurement laws, and the same was enough justification for her exit. They will never find any procurement issues with the work of Jean Mensa.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
Political Score-Settling or Genuine Concern?
Meanwhile, the allegations of bias against Jean Mensa have been a recurring theme in Ghana’s political discourse.
The 2020 general elections, which saw the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo securing victory over the NDC’s John Mahama, intensified these claims.
The NDC challenged the election results in court, accusing the EC of irregularities.
However, the Supreme Court upheld the election outcome, a verdict that further deepened the NDC’s mistrust of Mensa.
While legal and constitutional processes exist for removing high-ranking officials such as the Chief Justice and the EC Chairperson, Sarpong believes that this particular campaign is driven more by political vengeance than by genuine concerns over competence or misconduct.
He described the alleged effort as a desperate attempt to rewrite history and settle old scores rather than an exercise in accountability.
“Clearly, no proper justification can be found to remove Jean Mensa. This is pure hatred. The NDC hates Jean Mensa with a venom.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
As tensions rise, many political observers are keenly watching how events unfold. If Sarpong’s claims hold weight, the supposed strategy to unseat the Chief Justice could mark the beginning of a broader legal and political battle.
“Neither Gertrude nor Jean Mensa would take these deliberate actions orchestrated against them by the Presidency of John Dramani Mahama lying down. A lot of suits, coupled with legal jargon, are in the offing.”
Patrick Kwarteng Sarpong
The debate over the independence of state institutions remains a critical issue in Ghana’s democratic journey.
If the allegations by Sarpong are accurate, the political landscape could be heading for yet another contentious legal showdown.
While the NDC has not officially confirmed any intent to remove Jean Mensa, the party’s historical grievances with the Electoral Commission suggest that such concerns cannot be dismissed outright.
However, calls for the removal of the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson have gained traction, with multiple petitions being submitted.
One such petition originates from the Volta Region, where concerns have been raised over the alleged disenfranchisement of voters in the Guan Constituency during the 2020 electoral process.
Additionally, Ofosu-Appiah Daniel has filed a separate petition, accusing the EC Chairperson of constitutional violations.
He outlined allegations of incompetence, bias, and a series of actions or inactions that, in his view, have significantly undermined public trust in the Electoral Commission.
His petition argued that these issues have compromised the credibility of the electoral body, warranting urgent intervention to restore confidence in Ghana’s democratic process.
For now, the future of Ghana’s judiciary and electoral body remains uncertain as political maneuvering continues to shape the national discourse.
Whether these allegations will translate into actual legal battles or remain political rhetoric is a question only time can answer.
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