PTAAM Africa Urges Mahama to Act on Petition for EC Chair’s Removal

Civil society group Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement Africa (PTAAM Africa) has renewed its call on President John Dramani Mahama to act on petitions demanding the removal of Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa and her deputies, Eric Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey.

The petition, which was submitted on 8 January 2025, shortly after the new government took office, accuses the EC leadership of causing financial loss to the state, creating a constitutional crisis, and engaging in misconduct and abuse of resources.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday (3 September), Vice President of PTAAM Africa, Rashid Isah, expressed frustration over what he described as silence from the Presidency.

“As a matter of fact, we’ve not had any clear communication as to what action the President is hoping to take on our petition. We have sent reminders, and we are prepared to follow up if nothing is done. As of now, there has been no direct communication,” he said.

He cited the EC’s decision to compile a new voters’ register ahead of the 2020 elections, which cost more than US$80 million, as mismanagement that burdened taxpayers during a period of economic strain.

He also pointed to incidents of electoral violence and the disenfranchisement of an entire constituency in 2020 as signs of a constitutional crisis under the EC chair’s watch.

The group said it had sent follow-up reminders in April but has still not received a response. Isah stated that while the new administration needed time to settle in, patience is wearing thin.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed, but we have also taken note of certain actions by this government that appear to be geared towards the same goal. As a team, we will soon decide on our next line of action,” he said.

PTAAM Africa says it will continue to push until there is a clear response from the Presidency on the petition.