Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Chairman of Ghana’s opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has demanded the removal of the entire leadership of the Electoral Commission (EC), including Chairperson Jean Mensa, arguing that a systemic overhaul is necessary to restore public trust.
His remarks, made during a Radio Gold interview in Twi, align with the NDC’s broader “reset agenda” targeting key state institutions.
“Left to me alone, [Jean Mensa] should be removed together with the entire leadership of the Electoral Commission,” Asiedu Nketia stated, dismissing perceptions that the EC’s conduct during the 2024 elections which the NDC claims to have won validates its credibility. “Winning an election doesn’t turn the EC chair into an angel,” he added, reiterating longstanding grievances over the commission’s impartiality.
The EC, established under Ghana’s 1992 constitution to oversee elections and referendums, is led by Mensa, a lawyer and governance expert, alongside deputies Dr. Bossman Eric Asare and Samuel Tettey, both seasoned administrators with decades of electoral experience.
Four additional commissioners, including Reverend Akua Ofori-Boateng and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani, bring diverse backgrounds in academia, finance, and theology to the body. Commissioners hold permanent tenure under Article 46, which guarantees operational independence from government influence, with conditions of service mirroring those of Superior Court judges.
Asiedu Nketia’s demand faces constitutional hurdles. Removal of EC officials requires parliamentary approval for proven misconduct or incapacity a high threshold designed to insulate the commission from political interference.
Critics argue his call, while reflecting frustrations among opposition supporters, risks undermining an institution pivotal to Ghana’s democratic stability. Mensa’s tenure has drawn both praise for logistical efficiency and criticism from parties alleging opacity, particularly around voter register revisions and election expenditure disclosures.
The NDC chair’s stance highlights tensions between political actors and independent bodies in young democracies, where electoral disputes often spill into institutional legitimacy debates. While accountability advocates stress the need for transparency, constitutional safeguards for bodies like the EC aim to balance oversight with insulation from partisan volatility.
As Ghana approaches the 2028 election cycle, the discourse underscores a recurring challenge: ensuring robust democratic checks without eroding the neutrality of institutions tasked with upholding them.
