A former Ghana Ambassador to the Netherlands and a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Tony Aidoo has criticized Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa for her leadership approach, describing it as overly combative.
In an interview on AM Exclusive on Joy News on Monday, December 2, he expressed concerns about the impact her style has had on public trust and the Commission’s credibility.
“The EC is supposed to be independent and neutral. Now, nobody trusts the EC. Where is the independence of the EC? Even the EC has officers who everybody knows come from the NPP side,” Dr Aidoo said.
He argued that the role of the EC requires openness and cooperation to build trust rather than relying on power in a confrontational way.
“Jean’s approach to the management of the EC has been too combative. If you have power, you don’t have to use it to show you are powerful. The more power you exercise, the less power you have in reverse,” he explained. “What is important is that you are trusted. Your neutrality and independence will be enhanced if you are open rather than combative.”
Dr Aidoo contrasted Jean Mensa’s leadership with that of her predecessor, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who he said managed to gain respect despite accusations of political affiliation. “Afari-Gyan never had a problem with our political parties, even though they used to say he was a Rawlings man. He wasn’t. If you want a man of integrity, then he is Afari-Gyan.”
He also criticized recent issues at the Commission, including the reprinting of ballot papers for the Eastern and Western regions due to a mishap, describing the EC’s performance as lacking. “The EC has not operated in a way we can say ‘well done,’” he remarked. Dr Aidoo further alleged political bias in the EC’s staffing, stating, “Most of the deputy commissioners are NPP activists.”
“You want people to trust you, so what you need to do is be cooperative. You don’t structure yourself as if nobody can touch you. You are subservient to the constitution, but there are other entities who also have interests,” Dr Tony Aidoo concluded.
Latest Stories
-
Stephen Ntim takes temporal break as NPP Chairman due to health concerns
2 minutes -
Abolish ‘Additional Judge’ practice in lower courts – Justice Dennis Adjei urges
38 minutes -
District assembly elections are already partisan – Sir Dennis Adjei urges reform
47 minutes -
Africa World Airlines reschedules Accra–Ouagadougou route launch to 1st July
56 minutes -
Mahama vows to reignite dream of Bukom Boxing Academy
57 minutes -
Once I put on my judicial cap, my faith has nothing to do with judgement – Supreme Court nominee
1 hour -
LGBTQ: Judges must uphold the law, not personal faith – Justice Dennis Adjei
1 hour -
“If you cannot marry at 16? Why have sex at 16?” – Justice Adjei punches holes in Ghana’s laws
1 hour -
Criminalise falsehoods online just like offline offences – Sir Dennis Adjei backs misinformation law
1 hour -
Rain‑soaked Accra turned electric as ‘3 Faces of Jeffrey Nortey’ sold out National Theatre
2 hours -
Justice Dzamefe backs AI, virtual courts to tackle delays in justice delivery
2 hours -
First National Bank Ghana receives $35m capital injection to accelerate growth, lending capacity
2 hours -
2025 NCAA Champs: Rose Yeboah wins silver with season’s best jump
2 hours -
AI alone cannot fix judicial system without integrity – Ansa-Asare
2 hours -
ECL hosts second mentorship talk at Aburi SHS
2 hours