Member of Parliament(MP) for Manhyia South, Hon Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has expressed caution in publicly commenting on issues surrounding former Electoral Commission(EC) Chairperson Charlotte Osei, citing his personal and professional ties with her.
Speaking on Dwaso Nsem on Adom 106.3 FM, the MP explained that he is closely associated with Charlotte Osei, having trained under her law firm early in his legal career. “I am so grounded in the practice of law because of her firm. They knew I was very interested in litigation, so cases on similar matters were given to me. Because of this, I find it difficult to comment on her issues,” he said.
She highlighted in a democracy dialogue that she faced significant challenges as the first female EC chair appointed in 2015. Osei reportedly experienced sexism, ageism, and personal attacks on her family, saying threats to her family were more stressful than pressure calls. She has since stressed the importance of strong, independent institutions in Africa.
On the current petition seeking to remove Mrs Charlotte Osei from her post, Awuah alluded to the internal challenges she faced while in office. According to him, Mrs Charlotte Osei had sought to replace her deputies and relied on her connections with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as an advantage. However, her deputies reportedly opposed her, using their knowledge of internal operations, including information from the procurement officer at the Electoral Commission, to challenge her.
Awuah’s remarks underscore the complexities surrounding the case, highlighting both professional loyalty and the political dynamics at play within Ghana’s Electoral Commission.
