Ghana names new head of election body

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo yesterday named a lawyer and governance specialist Jean Mensa as the new head of the national electoral commission, the presidency said.

She replaced Charlotte Osei who was fired by Akufo-Addo in June for “misbehaviour and incompetence,” relating to alleged breaches of Ghanaian procurement laws.

Until her appointment, Mensa headed the Accra-based Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank, organisers of presidential debates ahead of general elections in Ghana.

The West African nation, a major commodity exporter, will hold elections in December 2020, a vote that is likely to be a close contest between Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The NDC boycotted the last presidential debate ahead of 2016 elections, accusing Mensa of working in the interests of Akufo-Addo, then leader of the main opposition.

She, however, dismissed the accusation. (Reuters/NAN)