PLAYBACK: 'Newsfile' on JoyNews

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, June 28, 2018, removed from office, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei and her two deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwah.

He was bound by recommendations by the five-member committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo to remove Mrs Charlotte Osei from office as Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) private legal practitioner Samson Lardy Anyenini has said.

A committee set up to investigate separate complaints brought against the three persons by Ghanaian citizens, recommended their removal.

The Minister of Information, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, on Friday told journalists that government will forward the adverse findings made against the immediate past Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei and her two former deputies to the Attorney General for possible prosecution.

“It is the Attorney General who is basically in charge of legal matters, prosecutions and issues like that. So the Attorney General will study the report by herself and I’m sure in due course she will report to the Ghanaian people on the series of measures that she will take in order to ensure compliance with the recommendations of this committee,” he said.

The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), however, disagreed with government, and threatened to demonstrate, alleging that the NPP administration is preparing the grounds to rig the elections in 2020.

Mr. Hamid at the press conference further defended the removal of the top EC officials and insisted that President Akufo-Addo only adhered to the dictates of the law.

“The Committee, in accordance with the Constitution, was set up, investigated the allegations, called witnesses, and the respondents were represented by legal counsel. Once the recommendation has been forwarded to the President, article 146(9) offers the President no discretion, but to act on the recommendation. For emphasis, it reads, ‘the President shall, in each case, act in accordance with the recommendations of the committee.’ This is exactly what has happened.”

“…The Committee concluded that enough evidence had been established, and therefore recommended her removal as the Chairperson of the EC based on misbehaviour and incompetence,” he added.

Former Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur passes on

Former Vice President of Ghana, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Friday collapsed at the Airforce Gym during a morning workout session and was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Former President John Dramani Mahama in a post on his social media page stated, "Shocking! No! PK was only last Saturday actively involved in our party’s constituency elections in the Central Region. Very sad Friday!"

President Akufo-Addo in a series of tweets, described the death of Mr Amissah-Arthur as unfortunate "since he [Amissah-Arthur] appeared to have a lot to contribute to the public life of our country."

He went on to praise Amissah-Arthur as a "longstanding public servant, who discharged his duties with dignity" adding that "Ghana has lost a fine public servant" in Amissah-Arthur.

President Akufo-Addo also extended his condolences to the family of the former Vice President and to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), particularly to former President John Dramani Mahama.

Former President Kufuor in a statement said the deceased was “a very dutiful servant of our country who has served this nation well and in multiple endeavours.”

For him, “his passing is a deep loss to our nation and to his family”. Ex-President Kufour said he mourns “with the country and the family he has left behind.”

Discussions on Newsfile on JoyNews were centred on these and other stories that made headlines within the week.

Watch a playback of the programme here