Kwame A Plus, Ghanaian musician and independent parliamentary candidate for the Gomoa central constituency, has lashed out at President Akufo-Addo over the dismissal of Charlotte Osei, former Electoral Commission (EC) chair.
In a post on Facebook to celebrate the birthday of Mrs. Osei yesterday [February 1, 2024], the outspoken musician criticised President Akufo-Addo for dismissing Mrs. Osei from office.
Charlotte Ose was appointed as the EC chair by former president John Dramani Mahama in 2015. Mrs Osei supervised the 2016 general elections, which brought President Akufo-Addo into office.
“Dear Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, today is Char [Charlotte] Osei’s birthday, and I want to use the opportunity to ask you this. How do you feel when you remember that after she worked for this country for so many years, including organising the peaceful election that brought you to power in 2016, you and that shameless guy at Makola Law School who was quietly demoted to an ordinary lecturer, I’m talking about the failed appeals court judge with adwen bɔne like COP Alex Mensah orchestrated “toli” [lies] and sacked her without giving her even a bicycle; no end of service benefits. Absolutely nothing!” he wrote.
The musician continued by urging President Akufo-Addo to revisit some decisions he has taken as president.
“The day you leave office, you’ll sit back, relax, and bite your fingers as you count the bridge you burn,” he added.
The social commentator added that President Akufo-Addo takes a deep retrospection into some of his decisions, especially regarding his appointees and what he did to the former EC boss.
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“Take a look at everything that has happened under your watch, especially your appointees who have engaged in various misconducts but you cleared, and tell me if Charlotte Osei deserved to be treated the way you did,” the ‘Aben Be Bom‘ singer stated.
Kwame A Plus also noted that some individuals he described as “opportunists” who are surrounding the president “will be nowhere to be found” when he leaves power after January 7, 2025.
“If you do not correct some of these things one day you will remember that karma is from Kyebi!” he cautioned.
Dismissal of Charlotte Osei and her deputies
The chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa, were removed from office in July 2018.
Their removal was based on recommendations from the committee that investigated corruption and misconduct allegations against them.
A statement signed and issued by the then Minister of Information, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, said: “The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has, on Thursday, 28th June 2018, removed from office the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Ms. Georgina Opoku Amankwah, with immediate effect.”
“This was after the Committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, pursuant to Article 146(4) of the Constitution, to investigate separate complaints brought against the three persons by Ghanaian citizens, recommended their removal from office,” the statement added.
However, it is unclear what the committee recommended to be paid as benefits and emoluments as entitled to a public officer. And if the same were accordingly paid to Mrs Osei and her two deputies.