Jean Mensa

^[1]Jean Adukwei Mensa is a Ghanaian lawyer by profession who has been serving as chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana since July 2018.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]} She was nominated by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo to take over the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) from her predecessor, Charlotte Osei.^[11] Jean Mensa was born on November 12, 1971. Prior to assuming the role of chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa spent an 18-year career at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), rising to the position of executive director.^[2] As the EC chairperson, Jean Mensa declared the then presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP as the president-elect of the December 7th, 2020 Presidential Election.^[12]

Early life and education[edit]

Jean was born on November 12, 1971, in Accra to Ga-Adangbe and Fante parents. Her father, Jacob Blukoo-Allotey, a physician who was awarded the Order of the Volta in 2008. Jean received her secondary education at St. Mary's Senior High School in Accra, after completion of her basic education at Ridge Church School. She studied at the University of Ghana Law school and received her degree in 1993. She was called to the Ghana Bar Association in 1995.^[13][14][1]

Career[edit]

Jean was appointed as the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana on 23 July 2018, after her predecessor was removed from office. For two decades, Jean has been a leader in policy research and advocacy. She has been involved in the development of policies, such as the Presidential Transition Act of 2012, the Revised 1992 Constitution of Ghana (draft), the Political Parties Funding Bill, and the Revised Political Parties Bill.^[2][15] Her specialization has been developing and implementing policy alternatives, that reflect international best practice but are also tailored to Ghana's needs. This is her first ever significant public sector appointment.

Jean was sworn in by the President of Ghana, Akufo-Addo.^[16][17] The swearing came in after a Ghanaian citizen by the name, Fafali Nyonatorto sought to halt the President from going through with the process of appointing a new Electoral Commission chair. The citizen challenged the removal of the former Electoral Commission to enable the court to hear her substantive case. The President claimed the removal of the former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Charlotte Osei, from her office was carried on with no malice. The president said it was expected of him to discharge the constitutional mandate.^[18][19][20]

Jean facilitated the IEA's Evening Encounter Series, Ghana's Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates, as well as Town Hall Meetings for parliamentary candidates. Prior to working at the IEA, Mrs Mensa also worked at Amarkai Amarteifio Chambers (1995-1997) and BJ Da Rocha Chambers as a Junior Lawyer (1998).

Mensa has been ranked by the African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE) as one of the Top 60 outstanding, inspiring and hardworking corporate women leaders in Ghana (2017). She has won several awards including the Excellent Leadership Award by the EXLA Group (2013) and the Young Professional Role Model in Governance Award presented by the Young Professionals and Youth Coalition Initiative (2014).

In July 2023, Mrs Jean Mensah was selected as a member of ECOWAS and AU Joint Pre-election Fact-finding Mission to Liberia ahead of the country's election on 10 October 2023.^[21]

Controversy[edit]

Warning Against the Compilation of a New Voter Registry[edit]

The Electoral Commission (EC) chaired by Jean was cautioned by the former president of Ghana John Mahama not to compile a new voter's register. He claimed there is not much time left for the general election to compile a new voters' register. He said Jean Mensah and her outfit will be held responsible if the country turns into a turmoil after the 2020 general elections take place. Demonstrations took place across the country in three cities Tamale, Kumasi and Accra to sound their view against the compilation.^[22] In September 2023, the Electoral commission headed by Jean Mensa begun the registration for new registrants, which also served a chance to all people who lost or attained 18 years of age to be able to register for new Voter ID cards to help them participate legally in coming elections.[1]

Election Scandals[edit]

During the collation after the 2020 election, Jean Mensa is alleged to have sent the representatives of the NDC, in the National Collation Centre to convey a message to their flagbearer but however proceeded to announce the election results after they departed with her message.^[23] The 2020 election declaration made by Jean Mensa was declared as flawed and a mathematical impossibility by several groups in Ghana and many also described it partisan and stealing in favour of the sitting president, with a group called the (Democratic Credentials Network Ghana) and many others were demanding her resignation.^[24] In the aftermath of her declaration, the Electoral Commission issued an unsigned press release clarifying the disparities in the election declaration.^[25] Former President John Dramani Mahama referred to Jean and her administration as the worst election management body in the history of the country, Ghana.

During the 2021 Election Petition Hearing at the Ghana Supreme Court, Jean Mensa through her lawyer refused to mount the witness box to be cross examined by the petitioners lawyers .^{[26][27][28][29][30]}

Doubting Ability to Lead[edit]

According to Peter Otokunor, a former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jean Mensa together with the EC, was a threat to the nation's democracy. Speaking on TV XYZ, he recalled how, in response to a report, the National Security Minister called a meeting with the EC and the various political parties to resolve the dispute between the electoral administration bodies and some disgruntled political parties. He claimed Jean neglected suggestions made by various political parties in favour of the incumbent government, although he could not show empirical evidence to back his claims.^[31]

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References[edit]