The ranking member of the Judiciary Committee of Parliament, Magnus Kofi Amoatey, has described as sad the petition demanding the removal of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei.
According to him, the petition is unfortunate and needless.
“It is sad to suddenly begin to tarnish the image of what we have so far achieved with such flimsy petition,” Mr. Amoatey, who is also a member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament told Accra-based Radio XYZ Thursday July 20, 2017.
Some aggrieved staff of the commission Wednesday July 19, 2017 in a petition to president Akufo-Addo called for the removal of Mrs. Osei because she lacks the managerial skills needed to lead the commission.
Also, they alleged that she “single-handedly” gave out contracts to the tune of $21,999,592 without going through tender contrary to the Public Procurement Act.
The presidency has since acknowledged the receipt of the petition to the president which was subsequently forwarded to the Chief Justice for the necessary actions to be taken.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Osei served notice Wednesday that she will take legal actions against the petitioners for defamation.
Again, she demanded for the names of staff who petitioned the president for her to be impeached “to enable us commence legal action against them for the defamatory statements contained in their petition failing which our client will be constrained to proceed against you alone as defendant in the suit our client intends to commence against them since you are to all intents and purposes, their agent.”
Concurring with the position of Mrs. Osei, Mr. Amoatey said “it is very very important to know who the accusers are.”
“It is the rule of natural justice. Natural justice demands and in fact our jurisprudence uphold it. If you’re bringing allegations against somebody you must be known,” he argued.
