EC probe: CJ warns public against contemptuous comments against Committee

The Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, has served notice that any person who makes comments that undermine the work of a Committee tasked to investigate the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her two deputies will be cited for contempt.

Judicial Secretary, Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong, released a statement Monday formally announcing the constitution of the five-member committee probing Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, over corruption allegations and abuse of power.

“It is the expectation of the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council that the public will treat the Committee with the respect and dignity it deserves, as it carries out its constitutional duty and refrain from making comments that will undermine the work of the Committee, since infractions may amount to contempt,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the Committee will sit in camera, “in line with normal practice.”

The five-member inquisitorial committee consists of three Justices of the Superior Court appointed by the Judicial Council, and two other persons appointed by the Chief Justice, on the advice of the Council of State.

The Committee is chaired by a Justice of the Supreme Court, the statement said.

Some unnamed staff of the EC petitioned President Akufo-Addo in July 2017, to remove Mrs Osei from office over allegations of fraud and financial malfeasance as well as abuse of office.

Some of the allegations involved the unilateral award of contracts by the EC boss in the run-up to the 2016 general election.

The unnamed EC staff are being represented by Lawyer Maxwell Opoku-Agyemang, against Mrs Osei.

The petition against her, alleged among others the funnelling of GH¢3.9 million to partition an office, the receipt of a Toyota Land Cruiser from the Mahama government, and the use of about $14 million when the Public Procurement Authority had authorised her to use only $7.5 million.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, Mrs Osei also made allegations of corruption against her deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Amankwa, claiming that she was only being hounded because she sought to introduce systems to curb misuse and mismanagement of resources.