NCCE boss named EC Chairperson
President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Mrs Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei as the new Executive Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Advertisement
A statement signed by the Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, and released in Accra last night said the appointment was in line with Article 70 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.
The new EC boss replaces Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who retired on June 18, 2015 after serving for 22 years in that capacity.
Until her new appointment, Mrs Osei was the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).
Prior to being made the Chairperson of the NCCE, she was the founder and lead counsel of Prime Attorneys, a leading law firm in Accra.
Mrs Osei had earlier served as a senior legal officer for the GCB and company secretary/legal adviser for Unibank Ghana Limited.
Education
She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Queen's University, Canada, and a Master in Business Leadership (MBL) from the University of South Africa.
She has significant experience in many facets of law, with particular specialisation in Corporate/Business Law, Banking, Investment and Employment Law.
The appointment of a new EC boss has generated heated debate in political circles, with some arguing that the Council of State would have to advise the President on the appointment, with others taking the opposite direction.
Hot debate
While the debate raged on, a number of names popped up as those likely to be considered by the President for the position.
A radio presenter has gone to the Supreme Court to seek an interpretation of the mandate of the President to make such an appointment as contained in the Constitution.
The case is yet to be heard.