OPEN LETTER
To:
H.E. John Dramani Mahama
President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces
Hon. Dominic Akumperi Ayeni
Attorney General and Minister for Justice
Subject: A National Imperative—Commence Immediate Proceedings to Relieve the Electoral Commissioner of Duty
Your Excellencies,
This letter is not borne of anger, but of solemn civic duty. Ghana once again finds itself at a critical juncture—where silence is no longer neutral, and inaction, no longer innocent. The credibility of our democratic framework, the legitimacy of our institutions, and the faith of our citizens have been deeply undermined by repeated lapses under the current Electoral Commission’s leadership.
From the systemic disenfranchisement of the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe (SALL) to the indefinite suspension of parliamentary representation in Ablekuma North, these are not isolated oversights. They are cumulative indicators of institutional decay. The 48-hour delay in releasing the 2024 presidential results only amplified public disillusionment and exposed a fragile electoral architecture in urgent need of reform.
Despite these crises, the Commission has shown no inclination toward accountability or redemptive leadership. What should be a vessel of trust has become a source of democratic fatigue.
Accordingly, we, the concerned citizens of this Republic, respectfully urge your good offices to:
1. Trigger constitutional proceedings for the removal of the current Electoral Commissioner in accordance with Article 146.
2. Initiate an inclusive, bipartisan mechanism for future appointments to the Electoral Commission to protect against political capture.
3. Reaffirm to the Ghanaian public that the sanctity of the vote and voice of every citizen—especially the long-neglected—remains paramount to this Republic.
This call is not partisan. It is the collective cry of a people long burdened by administrative injustice and constitutional neglect. We have waited. We have endured. And still, there has been neither redress nor remorse. The unbroken patience of SALL must not be mistaken for national indifference. Their rights matter. Their representation matters.
Madam Jean Mensa’s stewardship, by many assessments, has culminated in the following Ten Golden Sins Against the Ghanaian People, with special reverence to SALL:
1. SALL Disenfranchisement – The unlawful exclusion of SALL from parliamentary representation in 2020.
2. Four Years of Silence – A failure to acknowledge or remedy the trauma inflicted on excluded citizens.
3. Ablekuma North Paralysis – A prolonged delay in declaring election results, unjustly attributed to unspecified “security concerns.”
4. Public Distrust – A growing erosion of national confidence in electoral processes.
5. Financial Irregularities – Allegations of wasteful procurement, including questionable expenditures on biometric systems and new voter registers.
6. Opacity in Crisis – Consistent lapses in transparency during moments of national urgency.
7. Perceived Partisanship – Decisions widely viewed as favoring political interests over democratic principles.
8. Constitutional Dereliction – A persistent failure to uphold the rights guaranteed under Article 42.
9. Institutional Dysfunction – A Commission increasingly described as ineffective and unaccountable.
10. Civic Erosion – A decline in voter engagement, particularly among youth and disenfranchised communities.
This crisis must not be normalized. The Electoral Commission must not remain a bastion of inertia. The democratic covenant between state and citizen must be restored—starting with credible leadership.
Let this be the hour Ghana reclaimed its moral compass and institutional integrity.
Yours in solemn advocacy,
Atitso C Akpalu
Concerned Citizen and Advocate for Electoral Accountability
Accra, Ghana
Addendum to the Open Letter
Title: Restoring Institutional Integrity Through Full Accountability at the Electoral Commission
In furtherance of the urgent call for leadership reform at the Electoral Commission, we submit that accountability cannot be partial—it must be comprehensive. We therefore respectfully request the termination of the appointments of the Electoral Commissioner’s deputies, whose continued tenure undermines efforts to reestablish credibility and transparency within this critical institution.
Additionally, in strict accordance with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, we demand full public disclosure that Madam Jean Mensa and all serving deputy commissioners declared their assets and liabilities upon assumption of office. If any official is found noncompliant or negligent in this constitutional obligation, we urge swift legal action, as prescribed by law, to preserve institutional integrity and reinforce ethical leadership.
Failure to act decisively will risk embedding a culture of impunity at the very heart of our democracy.
Issued by Concerned Citizens for Electoral Accountability
Accra, Ghana
