Joyce Bawah Mogtari Calls on Jean Mensa to Respect Herself and Step Down from EC

Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the special aide to President-Elect John Dramani Mahama, has expressed her strong dissatisfaction with Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), urging her to step down following the 2024 general elections. According to Madam Mogtari, the current Electoral Commission, which she claims is excessively partisan, needs a total overhaul in order to restore the integrity and credibility of the institution.

During an interview on One Television Channel, Joyce Bawah Mogtari criticized the Electoral Commission for its handling of the recent election, which saw the National Democratic Congress (NDC) winning the presidential election. She directly attributed the violence witnessed in certain parts of the country during the elections to the EC’s delayed release of official results.

“I was thinking the EC chairperson would resign yesterday,” Mogtari remarked, expressing her frustration with the EC’s performance. She accused the Commission of incompetence, claiming it had been heavily influenced by partisanship. She pointed out that the Commission’s delayed announcement of results only fueled unrest, particularly when the public was already aware of the outcome. “There has been too much partisanship, and arm twisting. When the will of the people goes against you, there is nothing you can do,” she stated.

Mogtari further expressed her disappointment over the protracted delay in the declaration of the presidential results. She emphasized that by the time many citizens went to bed on election night, the outcome was already clear. “We all knew the result before going to bed. The main opponent had already conceded. What was the EC waiting for?” she questioned. Her remarks highlight the frustration many Ghanaians felt with the prolonged and unclear process.

Adding to her concerns, Mogtari pointed out that mistakes made by the EC, such as the destruction of ballot papers, were elementary and preventable. She emphasized that this further contributed to the tension surrounding the election. “Look at the destruction of ballot sheets, which were burned due to mistakes that should have been avoided,” she said. Despite the EC’s shortcomings, Mogtari praised the technical team for their efforts to address some of the issues, noting their significant role in mitigating the damage caused by the Commission’s mistakes.

When asked if she believed Jean Mensa should resign, Joyce Bawah Mogtari did not hold back. “Yes, absolutely. If I were in her position, I would have resigned already,” she stated. She recalled Jean Mensa’s own words, in which she declared that “it is finished,” and said that the same should apply to her. “It should be finished for her as well,” Mogtari declared, insisting that the EC chairperson must take responsibility for the errors and delays under her leadership.

Looking ahead, Mogtari emphasized that under John Dramani Mahama’s administration, comprehensive reforms at the Electoral Commission will be a top priority. She believes that these reforms are necessary to rebuild the trust of the Ghanaian people in the electoral process. “If there have been elementary breaches in the electoral process, then Jean Mensa has no place there,” she said. “From a professional perspective, the EC needs a complete reform, and this should be part of the constitutional amendments that John Mahama will undertake when he assumes office,” she added.

Speaking further on the issue, Mogtari called for a total reset of the Electoral Commission. She stated that the current Commission, particularly its leadership, has shown too much bias, especially against the NDC, and must be replaced. “We must reset the EC and remove all the partisans within. Jean Mensa herself has shown clear prejudice against the NDC, and she should go,” Mogtari asserted. She concluded by urging the EC Chairperson to respect herself and step down, further reiterating her belief that a fair and impartial Electoral Commission is crucial for the future of the country.

Mogtari’s comments reflect the ongoing frustrations of the NDC and its supporters with the Electoral Commission, which has been accused of bias and mishandling of election results. The call for reform is gaining momentum, and many are hopeful that a new approach will be adopted to ensure a more transparent and credible electoral process in Ghana moving forward.