The Electoral Commission (EC), chaired by Jean Mensa, has come under fire from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Effutu following the transfer of the Effutu Municipal EC Director, Emelia Ama Akotia.
In a strongly worded statement, the Effutu NDC condemned the transfer, calling it an “unholy decision” and urging Chairperson Jean Mensa to reverse it immediately. The party expressed its dissatisfaction with the timing and nature of the transfer, which they believe undermines the integrity of the electoral process in the region.
“This transfer has come despite the ongoing limited registration and transfer exercises.
We in the NDC condemn this transfer in no uncertain terms and are calling on Madam Jean Mensah, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, to immediately reverse this unholy decision. The NDC in Effutu has had its own challenges with the Effutu Electoral Commission.”
“We believe that the Electoral Commission failed to prevent the 2020 Effutu voters register from being bloated with an estimated 20,000 illegally imported voters. Even though we are still facing challenges, it seems that the Commission is now taking steps to prevent more imported voters onto the Effutu register in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise. Discussions are also ongoing to sanitize the voter transfer process, which is scheduled to commence on May 30. The sudden transfer of Madam Emelia Ama Akotia from Effutu, in the middle of the limited voter registration exercise, therefore, comes as a shock to us.”
The Effutu NDC has long harboured concerns about the conduct of the Electoral Commission in the region, particularly regarding the 2020 voters’ register, which they allege was inflated with some 20,000 illegal voters.
Below is the full statement from the Effutu NDC
THE EFFUTU NDC CONDEMNS JEAN MENSA FOR THE UNETHICAL TRANSFER OF ITS EFFUTU MUNICIPAL DIRECTOR
The Jean Mensah’s Electoral Commission has transferred its Effutu Municipal Director, Madam Emelia Ama Akotia, with immediate effect. This transfer has come despite the ongoing limited registration and transfer exercises.
We in the NDC condemn this transfer in no uncertain terms and are calling on Madam Jean Mensah, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, to immediately reverse this unholy decision.
The NDC in Effutu has had its own challenges with the Effutu Electoral Commission. We believe that the Electoral Commission failed to prevent the 2020 Effutu voters register from being bloated with an estimated 20,000 illegally imported voters. Even though we are still facing challenges, it seems that the Commission is now taking steps to prevent more imported voters onto the Effutu register in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise. Discussions are also ongoing to sanitize the voter transfer process, which is scheduled to commence on May 30.
The sudden transfer of Madam Emelia Ama Akotia from Effutu, in the middle of the limited voter registration exercise, therefore, comes as a shock to us. The way Madam Akotia has been transferred raises a number of questions:
- Why is Ama being transferred with immediate effect, especially in the middle of the ongoing registration and transfer exercises?
- If she has committed any offence, what was the nature of the offence, that is so grave that the Electoral Commission could not wait till the end of the ongoing registration and transfer exercises for such a transfer to be effected?
- If it is a normal, and routine administrative transfer, then why was the transfer not done earlier or after the ongoing exercise?
- Why has Madam Ama Akotia been transferred just days after she is reported to have had altercations with elements within the leadership of the Effutu NPP? Does Ama’s transfer have anything to do with her unwillingness to do the bidding of the NPP?
There are multiple sources pointing to elements within the NPP gallivanting several constituencies such as Tema East, Agona West and East, all the three Gomoa constituencies, Awutu Senya East, KEEA, and several other constituencies, promising people with money, to transfer their votes to Effutu to vote for the NPP. We are hearing that the new person being brought to the Effutu constituency is a political orchestration to fulfil the wishes of the NPP, in the impending voter transfer, and subsequent activities towards the December 7 elections.
We are by this statement calling on the general public to stay away from transferring their votes to the Effutu constituency if you are not eligible to vote here. Students of educational institutions in Effutu are qualified to transfer their votes here. Individuals who have lived in the constituency for 12 months and above are qualified to transfer their votes here. Any other transfer is illegal.