Mahama Dismisses Removal Petitions Against EC and Special Prosecutor After CJ’s Review
Chief Justice finds no prima facie case against EC leadership and Special Prosecutor
- Ten petitions sought removal of EC Chair, deputies, and Special Prosecutor.
- Chief Justice ruled allegations did not meet constitutional threshold.
- President Mahama dismisses petitions, ending the removal process.
President John Dramani Mahama has rejected a series of petitions seeking the removal of the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, her deputies, and the Special Prosecutor after the Chief Justice determined that no prima facie case had been established to warrant further proceedings.
The decision was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday, February 18, by the Minister of Government Communications.
According to the statement, Jubilee House received ten separate petitions in late 2025 invoking the constitutional removal process under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. Seven of the petitions were directed at EC Chair Jean Mensa and her deputies, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare and Samuel Tettey, while three sought the removal of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
In line with constitutional requirements, the petitions were forwarded to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for preliminary assessment to determine whether a prima facie case existed to justify further inquiry.
Petitioners alleged various forms of misconduct, including abuse of office, cronyism, and gross incompetence, claiming these had undermined public trust in the affected institutions. One of the petitions against the EC leadership was reportedly filed by Joseph Blankson Adumadzie, who raised concerns about administrative practices and integrity. However, specific details of the allegations remain confidential under constitutional provisions governing such processes.
After reviewing the submissions, the Chief Justice concluded that the petitions did not meet the constitutional threshold required to proceed. Under Article 146, a prima facie case must first be established before a five-member committee can be constituted to investigate claims of stated misbehaviour, incompetence, or incapacity — the only grounds for removal from office.
With the threshold unmet, no further action will be taken, effectively bringing the matter to a close.
The petitions had sparked public debate about accountability, due process, and the need to safeguard the independence and integrity of key state institutions. Analysts have noted that constitutional removal procedures are deliberately stringent to protect office holders from unwarranted political or reputational harm unless substantial grounds are established.
