General News of Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Source: tv3network.com

EC boss incompetent - Lawyer Ampaw

Madam Charlotte (left) and Lawyer Maurice Ampaw Madam Charlotte (left) and Lawyer Maurice Ampaw

Private legal practitioner, Dr. Maurice Ampaw, whose statements and comments have always stirred controversy, has descended on the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei, describing her as incompetent.

According to Dr. Ampaw, "Madam Charlotte is not competent for the job," but failed to give reasons for his view which he shared in a Facebook comment to a post by another lawyer criticizing the EC's approach to the manner it has handled the issues on the voters' register.

The legal practitioner, Maxwell Opoku-agyemang in a Facebook post Sunday morning said the EC as a quasi-judicial body, is expected to interrogate the allegations or claims made on the country's voters' register by the New Patriotic Party to determine whether or not it has merit.

He argued that the petitioners deserve a response from the EC as to their findings and not the kind of forum organized by the five-member committee it constituted , which he said, has reduced the whole issue to a debate between the NPP and NDC.

But without any reference whatsoever to the chair of the Commission, Dr. Ampaw commented that Mrs. Osei is incompetent for the EC chair job.

His comment was immediately condemned by another lawyer, Francis Kojo Kelly Arthur, describing it as "uninformed"

"Dr. Maurice Ampaw...you are the very last person I expect to pronounce on the competence or otherwise of the EC Chair...do NOT cause some of us to miss our Sunday fellowship because of your uninformed post/comments on an otherwise serious issue. I greet you," he posted.

But Dr. Ampaw maintained his stand, saying "I don't do politic but in my humble opinion madam Charlotte comments [ at the forum ] is prejudicial to the final report of the panel members work. And in my candid view, l still stands by my initial comment".

He added: "Don't dare lawyer Ampaw. Do you know Madam Charlotte well, ask her about me. She knows I know her well".