Jean Mensa's EC a threat to democracy - Asiedu Nketia

The bad blood between between the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Electoral Commission (EC) seems far from over.

It appears to be worsening by the day. The NDC has not hidden its concerns about the conduct of the electoral body in recent times and has openly criticised the EC over some of its decisions the party disagrees with.

A few days ago, the party kicked against limiting an upcoming limited registration exercise to the district level describing it as distasteful following the EC’s decision not to heed to the NDC’s request for decentralisation of the process.

General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, strongly believes the Chairperson of the Commission, Jean Mensa, harbours some prejudice against them.

"Somehow, I believe that because we expressed our opinion about her suitability or otherwise for the position when the appointment was made. She appears to be carrying that prejudice and she thinks that is a sufficient reason for denying us our rights. So we think that, the problem is about her attitude and not about the NDC,” he told the media.

After a recent IPAC meeting held on Wednesday, 24th April 2019, the opposition party condemned the posture of Madam Jean Mensa.

According to the NDC, Jean Mensa disrespected their General Secretary when she warned him against laughing at her comments. They further described her as a threat to the country’s democracy.

Reacting to this in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News, Deputy EC Chair, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare said various comments and posture of the NDC points to the fact that they (NDC) ‘are rather the threat’.

“I think if there’s anyone who is becoming a threat to the democracy we are practicing in our country then I would rather say it has been the posture of the NDC since this new commission took over…we’ve seen a particular pattern on the side of the NDC. This is a commission which aims at enhancing our democracy,” he indicated.

Recounting what transpired at the meeting, he said: "in the process of the chairperson making her statement, Mr. Asiedu Nketia was giggling and the chairperson told him you are becoming a distraction; your actions are disrupting the meeting; that was one of the several things that occurred”… adding, "we are surprised they claim the chairperson was screaming…” he added.