President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed multiple petitions seeking the removal of the leadership of the Electoral Commission of Ghana and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, following a determination by the Chief Justice that no prima facie case exists to warrant further action.
The development was confirmed by Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, in a statement issued on Wednesday, February 18.
According to the Minister, ten separate petitions were submitted to Jubilee House in late 2025 under the constitutional removal process. Seven of the petitions targeted EC Chair Jean Mensa and her two deputies, Bossman Eric Asare and Samuel Tettey. The remaining three petitions sought the removal of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
In line with Article 146 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the petitions were referred to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for preliminary constitutional scrutiny to determine whether a prima facie case had been established.
The petitioners alleged various forms of misconduct, including cronyism, abuse of office, and gross incompetence, claiming that these actions had undermined public confidence in the institutions concerned.
One of the petitions against the EC leadership was reportedly filed by an EC staff member, Joseph Blankson Adumadzie, who raised concerns about administrative and integrity issues. However, the specific details of the complaints remain legally confidential under constitutional provisions governing such proceedings.
After reviewing the submissions, the Chief Justice concluded that the threshold for establishing a prima facie case had not been met. Under Article 146, this determination is required before a five-member tribunal can be constituted to investigate allegations of stated misbehaviour, incompetence, or incapacity — the only constitutional grounds for removing such office-holders.
Since the constitutional test was not satisfied, the process has effectively come to an end.
The Presidency is expected to issue a formal communication outlining the decision and its implications.
The petitions had sparked broader public debate about accountability, transparency, and institutional independence. Critics argued that removal processes involving high-ranking officials must be handled with strict adherence to constitutional safeguards to protect both institutional integrity and the reputations of office-holders unless clear legal thresholds are met.
With the Chief Justice’s ruling, the EC leadership and the Special Prosecutor remain in office, bringing closure — for now — to the constitutional challenge.
