Hot SourceThe Jubilee House is under fire as civil society group Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement Africa (PTAAM Africa) accuses President John Dramani Mahama of dragging his feet on petitions demanding the removal of Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa and her deputies, Dr Eric Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey.
PTAAM Africa, which filed its petition on 8 January 2025, barely a week after the new administration took office says the Presidency’s silence smacks of indifference. The group insists that the EC boss has presided over financial recklessness, constitutional breaches and outright abuse of office.
Vice President of PTAAM Africa, Rashid Isah, vented his frustration on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday (3 September).“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.
The petition cites three main charges: the costly decision to compile a new voters’ register ahead of the 2020 elections at over $80 million, despite economic strain; incidents of electoral violence; and the disenfranchisement of an entire constituency during the polls — which the group argues created a constitutional crisis.
Mr Isah argued that these failings represent more than just errors in judgment. “Her insistence on compiling a new voters’ register … amounted to mismanagement and financial loss to the state,” he said.
Although PTAAM Africa acknowledges that the new government needed time to settle in, it notes that reminders sent in April were ignored. “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,” Mr Isah added.
For now, the group says it will continue to pile pressure until President Mahama makes a clear move. Anything less, it warns, would confirm growing suspicion that the Presidency is shielding Jean Mensa from accountability.
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