Credit: Kekeli K. Blamey
Political commentator and former presidential staffer, Ibrahim Adjei, has issued a strong appeal for the protection of Ghana’s democratic institutions, urging political actors to uphold due process in their dealings with the Electoral Commission (EC).
His remarks come amid rising political tensions, as the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) intensifies its demand for the removal of EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa. Addressing the media on Monday, June 30, Adjei warned that any move to unseat the EC leadership must be backed by verifiable evidence and conducted within the framework of the law—not driven by political frustration.
“Our democracy depends on the integrity of its institutions,” Adjei said. “The removal of an Electoral Commissioner should never be reduced to a political score-settling exercise. It must be justified by proven misconduct or legal breaches.”
The former Assistant Secretary in the Office of ex-President Nana Akufo-Addo emphasized the dangers of undermining electoral credibility through partisan pressure. He referenced the past dismissal of former EC Chair Charlotte Osei, noting that her removal was based on a legal finding of procurement violations—unlike the current calls targeting Jean Mensa, which he argued lack concrete evidence.
His comments follow recent accusations by NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who charged the EC with incompetence and pointed to the unresolved parliamentary election issues in Ablekuma North. But Adjei countered that while concerns about the EC’s performance are legitimate in a democratic system, addressing them must not come at the cost of institutional stability.
“If there’s wrongdoing, let it be exposed with facts. But Ghana cannot afford to erode the credibility of its electoral system on the basis of political discomfort,” he asserted.
