Ghana’s electoral chief faces corruption probe

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) Mrs Charlotte Osei, has been summoned by the Parliament to answer allegations of corruption and abuse of office.

Osei, who led Ghana to a successful general election in 2016 is being accused of corruption, abuse of office and highhandedness. If established she risks being removed from office.

In a 29-point petition, a faceless member of staff of the commission had accused Osei of breaching due process in the award of contracts, lack of accountability, sidelining of her deputies and abuse of office. So he is seeking her removal as the electoral commission chief.

The petitioner claimed that she unilaterally awarded a contract of about $25,000 to a South African company for the rebranding of the commission’s logo without recourse to the Public Procurement Act.

Osei was also alleged to have submitted an estimate of GHc 1 million for the renovation of her official apartment without the knowledge of the commission or her deputies.

Another contentious issue involving the EC boss was in regard to the fee, the commission charged journalists for the coverage of the 2016 election. The petitioner alleged that the proceed was never remitted to the coffers of the commission.

Her lawyer, Thaddeus Sory, who declared the petition as injurious and defamatory is determined to file a legal action against her accusers.

He asked the lawyer to the petitioner, Maxwell Opoku Agyemang to reveal the identity of his client and his collaborators in order to sue them.