Akufo-Addo behind move to get rid of EC Boss - Koku Anyidoho

Deputy General Secretary for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho has accused President Akufo-Addo of being behind the move to kick out the Electoral Commissioner, Madam Charlotte Osei from office.

According to the NDC Deputy Chief Scribe, President Akufo-Addo and his Vice Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as well as the entire ruling NPP want to manipulate the system to work in their favour in the upcoming District Chief Executive elections in 2019 and the main elections in 2020.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Koku Anyidoho alleged that the NPP want to throw out all the Electoral Commissioners and replace them with their own people; thus, the ruling NPP engineered the petition against the EC Officials.

He explained that the NPP led by Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia prior to the 2016 elections stated their dislike of the EC boss, Madam Charlotte Osei; “lying” that the voter’s register is bloated with foreigners.

“Akufo-Addo and Bawumia passed bad comments about the EC boss and so the impeachment approach started from them; this is very political coming from the top. They want to manipulate the system and that is why they want EC officials out in order to massage the DCE elections in 2019 and the main elections in 2020. Let them attempt and we are watching them,” he alleged.

“Nana Akufo-Addo is interested in getting rid of Charlotte Osei, and in opposition they did not hide their dislike for the EC boss.They are not being fair to the EC Chair. NPP made it manifestly clear that they will get rid of Charlotte Osei and this action shows clearly that they are behind her impeachment,” he claimed.

He allegedly mentioned again that the removal of some state officials is not only happening in Electoral Commission, but also there are moves to remove the head of Bank of Ghana and the Military Service.

“They are not doing this to only EC but to Bank of Ghana and the Military Service. Ken Ofori-Atta has been calling people that he cannot work with them, he wants to be President of Ghana,” Koku Anyidoho alleged.

Meanwhile, the Committee empanelled by Chief Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo to probe the allegations of abuse of power and corruption at the Electoral Commission (EC), yesterday met both the petitioners and the respondents.

Both the petitioners and the respondents reported at the scheduled time and each reportedly met the committee, to be chaired by a Supreme Court judge.

The EC workers, who petitioned the president, were represented by two of them with the rest waiting in the wings for the real day for the showdown.

But Koku Anyidoho insisted that President Akufo-Addo is interested in removing Charlotte Osei which is why he accepted the petition against the EC boss, unlike former President Mills who kicked against a petition to remove former Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina Woods.