Charlotte Osei's removal won't affect creation of six new regions – Dan Botwe

The government says the removal of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Charlotte Osei and her two deputies from office will not affect the plan to create six new regions in Ghana. Minister of Regional Organisation and Development Dan Kweku Botwe said the government was already in talks with the EC, and that the processes with the Commission would continue. Mrs. Osei and two of her deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwa, were on Thursday, June 28 removed from office by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on grounds of “stated misbehaviour and incompetence”. READ: Charlotte Osei, deputies sacked Their removal was on the back of recommendations from a committee set up by the Chief Justice to investigate the three on allegations brought against them by some staff of the Commission in 2017. Many Ghanaians have since Thursday questioned the removal of Charlotte Osei who has been in office for just three years, while some have questioned whether it will not disrupts the processes for the creation of the new regions. Speaking in a recorded programme ‘Kaptured by Women’ to be aired today on TV3, Dan Botwe ruled out the possibility of their removal affecting the processes of the creation of the additional six regions. He maintained the creation of the regions would still go ahead as planned. “EC is a very formidable institution and very well structured right from the district to regional level, as well as the headquarters too. They have directors, so I want to believe that they should be able to continue from where we left off,” he said. The Minister also said he does not expect the removal of the commissioners to have any impact on the processes. READ: Charlotte Osei-led EC preparing for creation of new regions- Dan Botwe According to Mr. Botwe, the major work as to organising a referendum would not be affected in any way by their removal. “There are so many very experienced people in the commission who understand this thing, who have been doing a lot of work there and I want to believe that should not affect the referendum and the processes,” he said The minister said the creation of the new regions would be completed by end of year, 2018. “It should be a reality; there is no reason why it should not. By December, if 50% turn up in the places where they are supposed to vote and the people come out to vote, it will be a reality.” On Tuesday June 26, 2018 the Commission of enquiry into the creation of six new regions submitted its report to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. READ: Creation of 6 new regions in the hands of EC & Ghanaians – Prez The president on receipt of the report said the creation of the new regions rest on the EC; the mandated institution to oversee the process. By Irene Amesimeku| 3news.com| Ghana]]>