Charlotte Osei's dismissal: Gordon Asare Bediako reveals how it was
Charlotte Osei's dismissal: Gordon Asare Bediako reveals how it was planned by NPP.
It has emerged that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) together with
some people at the Presidency planned the removal of the three electoral
commissioners over a year ago. This was contained in an alleged audio conversation available to
US-based Ghanaian Journalist, Kevin Ekow Baidoo Taylor and cited. The voice chat was between Gordon Asare Bediako, the Editor
of ABC News/ journalist with the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Yiadom
Kessie, MMT Consultant and Bennett Aboagye, Former Metro Mass Transit
(MMT) Boss.
In very clear’ nine minutes and 13 seconds audio, which was
recorded on February 22, 2018, Gordon is allegedly heard explaining to
the two gentlemen the kind of stories he can publish using his outfit to
ensure the dismissal of the former EC Boss, Charlotte Osei.
“I need just 20 per cent to publish it but unless they bring it to me…
One of the commissioners just called me...not Aggrey-Fynn but one of the
women at EC...,” Gordon said allegedly to the gentlemen.
He allegedly added if not for the toughness of the Chief Justice,
Sophia Akuffo, this matter would have been rubbished a long time ago.
“When we met, I told them they should write a petition...Presidency
should also tell her to get other people to write a petition against
Georgina Opoku Amankwa...Presidency wrote the said petition...Yes! I am
telling you this,” Gordon allegedly stressed.
He explained there was a petition against Charlotte Osei which was very
controversial therefore there was a suggestion that there should be
another petition against Georgina Opoku Amankwa, “so that in case they
are sinking, they sink together.”
One of the men, Yiadom Kessie before they departed the conversation
allegedly asked of Gordon’s contact and he willingly mentioned.”
Mr Kessie allegedly later told Gordon Asare Beduako who is currently
reading Law at the University of London that he "will be willing to help
me pay some of his fees" so if he is in need of anything, he can
contact him.
“I received GHC1, 000 sometime in October, I called the person who sent
it and he said for the work we did… Since the NPP won the elections,
they have neglected us...they don’t recognise anybody,” disturbed Gordon
Asare Bediako said.
Background
It has been over a year since the Chairperson of the Electoral
Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei together with her two deputies, Amadu
Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa were sacked by the NPP administration
based on some allegations.
The removal, however, was based on findings of a committee which
investigated allegations of corruption levelled against the trio.
Some concerned workers of the Electoral Commission in July 2017
petitioned the President and the Chief Justice to begin impeachment
processes against the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei.
They accused Mrs Osei of taking unilateral decisions without recourse
to the appropriate departments of the EC, even her deputies.
The group also accused the EC Chair of engaging in fraudulent
activities, citing her decision to cancel a contract awarded to
Superlock Technologies Limited (STL) to supply and manage Biometric
Voter Registration machines (BVRs) and the Biometric Voter Devices
(BVDs), as well as her directive for the payment of $76,000 to IT firm
Dream Oval.
Following that, a counter-argument ensued between Mrs Osei and her two
deputies that portrayed that all was not well between the three topmost
commissioners at the EC.
A counter-petition was also filed for the removal of the two other
commissioners, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa. After about a
year of investigations, the Chief Justice's Committee handed over its
report to the presidency.
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."
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