Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the special aide to President-Elect John Dramani Mahama, has expressed her expectation for Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), to resign. Mogtari argues that the current commission is heavily partisan and that this situation undermines the integrity and credibility of the electoral process. She emphasizes the need for a complete reset of the commission to ensure that future elections are conducted fairly and transparently. Her comments reflect ongoing concerns about the impartiality of the EC and its role in the democratic process in Ghana. Speaking on Channel One Television, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the special aide to President-Elect John Dramani Mahama, criticized the Electoral Commission (EC) for its handling of the 2024 election results, which she claimed led to violence. She pointed out that the delay in releasing the official results was a key factor contributing to the unrest. According to Mogtari, the Commission’s “incompetence” and partisanship were evident throughout the process, and the long wait for results exacerbated tensions.
She specifically mentioned that by the time the results were eventually announced, the opposition candidate had already conceded, making the EC’s delay seem unnecessary. Mogtari also highlighted the significant losses caused by destroyed ballot sheets due to “elementary mistakes.” She praised the technical team for their efforts in ensuring the EC was held accountable, but called for urgent reforms to restore confidence in the commission. When asked whether the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, should resign, Joyce Bawah Mogtari responded strongly, saying, “I think that she should have, in her place, I would have [resigned]. Like she said, it is finished. It should be finished for her [Jean] as well.” Mogtari’s remarks emphasize her belief that the EC, under Mensa’s leadership, has failed in its duties, particularly with its handling of the 2024 election.
She further added that, under the John Mahama administration, comprehensive reforms at the Electoral Commission would be a top priority. This signals the NDC’s intent to address what they view as deep flaws within the EC to ensure future elections are fair, credible, and transparent. In a recent statement, Joyce Bawah Mogtari reiterated her strong stance on the need for the resignation of Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC). Speaking on December 10, Mogtari described the EC as “incompetent” and accused it of being “too partisan,” citing “arm twisting” and the failure to uphold the will of the people. She expressed her belief that if there were elementary breaches in the electoral process, Mensa had no place leading the commission.
Mogtari further emphasized that the entire Electoral Commission requires a complete overhaul, suggesting that this should be part of the constitutional amendments planned under President-Elect John Dramani Mahama’s administration. She called for the removal of all partisan figures within the EC and criticized Jean Mensa for what she described as bias and prejudice against the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mogtari concluded that Mensa should “respect herself” and step down.
