The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has congratulated Mrs. Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei on her appointment to head Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) but was quick to remind her to execute her “responsibility with utmost professionalism, teamwork and neutrality at all times.”
This was contained in a press release signed by the co-chair persons of CODEO, Professor Miranda Greentstreet and Justice VCRAC Crabbe.
CODEO urged the new Chairman to do all she could to help develop public trust in the Commission and to work hard to strengthen internal structures of the Commission to make it more effective.
According to the statement, CODEO promised to continue to offer its fullest support to Mrs.Osei.
“On its part, CODEO will continue to offer its fullest support and cooperation to Mrs.Osei and the Commission to improve on the integrity and credibility of Ghana elections as it had done during the tenure of Kwadwo Afari-Gyan,” the statement said.
The Coalition praised the former EC Chairman, Dr. Afari-Gyan, for his enormous contributions to the management of elections in Ghana and Africa.
It urged the existing Commissioners, the entire staff of the EC, political parties, media and major election stakeholders, both state and non-state actors, to cooperate with the new chairperson to ensure that there is an improvement in Ghana’s electoral process.
Earlier in June, President John Dramani Mahama, in accordance with Article 70(2) of the 1992 Constitution, had appointed Mrs. Charlotte Osei as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana.
Mrs. Osei, a lawyer with considerable experience in public service management, institutional reform also has expertise in corporate law, banking, insurance, project financing and public-private partnerships.
She holds a Masters in Law (LLM) from Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada and a Masters in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa, Pretoria.
She also obtained an LLB (Hons) from the University of Ghana in 1992.
By: Selassie A. Amissah Mensah /citifmonline.com/Ghana