Why Charlotte Osei Was Removed As EC Chair —Manhyia South MP Drops Big Revelation

Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the MP forManhyia South, has offered his account of thecircumstancessurrounding the removal of formerElectoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei,insisting thather own conduct contributed tothe events that led to her dismissal in June 2018.

Adom Online reported on November 25, 2025,that the lawmaker made the assertion duringan interviewon Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem. Hemaintained that former President Nana AddoDankwa Akufo-Addo didnot initially intendto remove Mrs Osei, arguing instead that thedispute developed because of decisionssheallegedly took while leading the commission.

According to Baffour Awuah, Charlotte Oseireportedly sought to rely on her relationshipwith Akufo-Addo to have her deputies removedfrom office. He claimed that the plan wasresisted by the deputies,who were familiarwith the commission’s internal operations andallegedly had access to importantinformation,including details concerning procurement.

The MP said the disagreement eventuallyled the deputies to submit a formal petitionagainst Mrs Osei.He added that the situationbecame increasingly tense after issuesconnected to the dispute reachedthe Economicand Organised Crime Office.

Baffour Awuah explained that the petition waslater referred to the Chief Justice by Akufo-Addo as partof the constitutionally prescribedprocedure. He argued that forwarding thepetition was a proceduralresponsibilityand did not necessarily mean the formerpresident had personally initiated a planto removethe EC chairperson.

The lawmaker further drew a connection betweenthe controversy surrounding Charlotte Osei’sdepartureand the more recent debate overthe removal of former Chief Justice GertrudeTorkornoo. He cautionedthat constitutionalprovisions must be followed carefully wheneverthe tenure of a senior public officialis challenged.

He warned that any attempt to disregardestablished legal procedures could weaken publicconfidencein Ghana’s democratic system andcreate problems for future administrations. Healso challengedthe allegations reportedly raisedagainst Justice Torkornoo, arguing that theywere not appropriategrounds for her removal.

His remarks have brought renewed attentionto the constitutional processes governing thedismissalof senior public officials and the needto ensure that such decisions are handled fairly,transparentlyand in accordance with the law.