Jean Adukwei Mensa (Profile)

Madam Jean Adukwei Mensah is a Ghanaian lawyer and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. She was appointed by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Assumed Office

She assumed office on 23rd July 2018, after her predecessor was removed from office.

Career

Prior to assuming the role of Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa spent an 18 year career at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), rising to the position of Executive Director and playing a pivotal role in strengthening Ghana’s democracy and promoting strong institutions.

 For two decades, Mrs. Mensa 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.

Madam Jean Mensa also worked at Amarkai Amarteifio Chambers (1995-1997) and BJ Da Rocha Chambers as a Junior Lawyer (1998).

Awards

1 Jean 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).

2 She has won several awards including the Excellent Leadership Award by the EXLA Group (2013)

3. Young Professional Role Model in Governance Award presented by the Young Professionals and Youth Coalition Initiative (2014).

Education

Jean Mensa received her secondary education at the St. Mary's Senior High School. She studied at the University of Ghana, Faculty of Law and received her degree in 1993. She was called to the Bar in 1996.

Controversy

Firstly, the swearing came in after a citizen of Ghana 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.

Later, the Electoral Commission Chairperson 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.

In spite of that, the new voters' register was carried out and the election was successful. But the former president John Mahama took the Electoral Commission chairperson to court, challenging the legibility of the 2020 election declaration which secured a second term for incumbent president Nana Addo Dankwa.

The case is still in court.

Source: Wikipedia

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