The Presidency has officially announced that the Chief Justice has dismissed several petitions seeking the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), her deputies, and the Special Prosecutor.
In a final determination, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie ruled that the petitions failed to establish a prima facie case to warrant further investigation.
The decision follows a comprehensive review of seven petitions against the EC leadership and three petitions directed at the Special Prosecutor, all of which were referred to the Chief Justice by President John Dramani Mahama in November 2025.
Constitutional Process Upheld
The petitions were handled in accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 15 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). These laws mandate that the Chief Justice must first determine if there is sufficient evidence a prima facie case before a committee is established to investigate the removal of high-ranking state officials.
In a letter dated January 26, 2026, Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie informed the President that the petitions did not meet the legal threshold required to move forward. This effectively ends the months-long legal uncertainty surrounding the leadership of these critical state institutions.
Government Response
The statement, signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communications and Spokesperson to the President, confirms that no further action will be taken regarding the removal of these officials.
“By the letter dated 26th January 2026, the Chief Justice informed His Excellency the President that no prima facie case has been established… to warrant any further investigations,” the statement read.
Context of the Petitions
The petitions, which originated from various individuals and groups, were initially referred to the Chief Justice on November 25, 2025. While the specific grievances within the petitions were not made public due to the sensitive nature of the constitutional process, they followed a period of intense political debate regarding the independence and performance of both the Electoral Commission and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
The dismissal of these petitions is expected to bring stability to the Electoral Commission as it prepares for future electoral cycles and allows the Office of the Special Prosecutor to continue its mandate without the immediate threat of leadership disruption.
