{"id":384614,"date":"2017-12-19T16:59:42","date_gmt":"2017-12-19T16:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=384614"},"modified":"2017-12-20T06:33:51","modified_gmt":"2017-12-20T06:33:51","slug":"avoid-contempt-against-cttee-probing-ec-officials-cj-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/12\/avoid-contempt-against-cttee-probing-ec-officials-cj-warns\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoid contempt against C’ttee probing EC officials – CJ warns"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, has formally constituted a committee to investigate the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, over corruption allegations leveled against them, with a caution to the general public to desist from making demeaning comments about their work.<\/p>\n
Already, some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), have started criticizing the process, accusing the government of seeking to hound the EC Boss, Charlotte Osei.<\/p>\n
The three officials met the Chief Justice a week ago, where they were notified that a prima facie case had been established against them.<\/p>\n
“The general public is hereby informed that, Her Ladyship the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo, in accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, has set up a five-member committee to investigate allegations brought against the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Charlotte Osei, and her two deputies, Mr. Amadu Sulley and Mrs. Georgina Opopu-Amankwa.”<\/p>\n
In a statement signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong, the Chief Justice said anyone who makes comments that undermine the work of the Committee, will be cited for contempt.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”zeSXB6dNDTk7bFN2aRTENavynwyhO0Qq”]In a release copied to citifmonline.com<\/strong>, the Judicial Secretary,\u00a0 said the sittings of the Committee will be closed to the public.<\/p>\n The release, which failed to indicate the names of the Committee members, as well as state exactly when the Committee will start its work, said it will be chaired by a Justice of the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Committee, which will sit in camera, in line with normal practice, consists of three (3) Justices of the Superior Court appointed by the Judicial Council, and two (2) other persons appointed by the Chief Justice, on the advise of the Council of State. The Committee is chaired by a Justice of the Supreme Court.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is the expectation of the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council that the public will treat the Committee with the respect and dignity it deserves, as it carries out its constitutional duty and refrain from making comments that will undermine the work of the Committee, since infractions may amount to contempt.\u201d<\/p>\n The Petitions<\/strong><\/p>\n Some staff of the EC petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in July 2017, to remove Mrs. Osei from office over allegations of fraud and financial malfeasance as well as abuse of office.<\/p>\n Some of the allegations involved the unilateral award of contracts by the EC boss in the run-up to the 2016 general election.<\/p>\n The unnamed EC staff are being represented by Lawyer Maxwell Opoku-Agyemang, against Mrs. Osei.<\/p>\n The petition against her, alleged among others the funneling of GH\u00a23.9 million to partition an office, the receipt of a Toyota Land Cruiser from the Mahama government, and the use of about $14 million when the Public Procurement Authority had authorized her to use only $7.5 million.<\/p>\n Charlotte Osei takes on Deputies<\/strong><\/p>\n Mrs. Osei also responded by making allegations of corruption <\/a><\/strong><\/span>against her deputies, claiming that she was only being hounded because she sought to introduce systems to curb misuse and mismanagement of resources.<\/p>\n