Jean Mensa, Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), is at the center of a storm of controversy as calls for her resignation intensify, fueled by allegations of electoral fraud in the 2020 presidential election and courtroom exchanges that have gripped the nation.
Prominent lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a legal challenge, has reportedly exposed inconsistencies in Mensa’s handling of the 2020 election results, prompting renewed scrutiny of her role as the returning officer for the presidential election.
During a recent Supreme Court session, Tsikata pressed Mensa on when she first realized errors existed in the figures announced on December 9, 2020, for the presidential election results. The exchange highlighted a constitutional nuance: the EC Chairperson, not the institution itself, is designated as the sole returning officer for presidential elections.
Tsikata argued that Mensa’s personal accountability cannot be substituted by her deputies, emphasizing the constitutional weight of her position. “The chairperson and only that chairperson is the returning officer,” Tsikata stated, rejecting suggestions that another EC official could act in her place. This legal standoff has reignited debates about the integrity of the 2020 election, with critics accusing Mensa of mismanagement and bias.
Adding to the pressure, posts on X and various media platforms claim that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued warnings to Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, urging her to “go home” amid allegations of protecting Mensa and other officials.
These claims, though unverified, suggest a deepening rift between political factions and the judiciary. Sources on X also indicate public frustration with Mensa’s leadership, with some users calling her tenure “marked by undeniable incompetence” and demanding her immediate resignation.
The controversy traces back to the 2020 election petition, where the NDC challenged the results that declared President Nana Akufo-Addo the winner. Allegations of fraud, including discrepancies in vote counts and result collation, have resurfaced, with critics pointing to Mensa’s handling of the process as a key issue. Some radio discussions, including one on a station identified as “92.3,” have labeled the EC’s actions as “criminal” and accused the judiciary of shielding Mensa under political pressure.
