The Woman of Courage Award conferred on the EC Chairperson, Mrs Charlotte Osei
The good book, the Holy Bible in Mark 6:4 quotes Jesus Christ as telling his audience on one of his evangelism projects that “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town among his relatives and family.'' The truism in this statement has been manifested in the honour conferred on the chairperson of the Electoral commission Mrs. Charlotte Osei by the U.S Department of State. The Department adjudged the EC Chairperson as the 2017 Woman of Courage. The award is presented annually to women around the world who have shown leadership, courage and willingness to sacrifice for others especially in promoting women's rights.
Presenting the award, the U.S Ambassador to Ghana Robert Jackson affirmed that Mrs. Charlotte Osei epitomises the phrase woman of courage. He commended the EC Chairperson for her bravery before, during and after the 2016 general election. According to Mr. Jackson the reforms Mrs Osei undertook at the Electoral Commission guaranteed the credibility of the 2016 elections and minimised the risk of a disputed outcome.
In fact, Mrs Osei can aptly be described as the most vilified public servant in Ghana today. Since her appointment to the position as EC chairperson, Mrs Osei has known no peace. As the first woman to be head of Ghana's electoral body, she has been described by some political actors in derogatory terms. As if those were not enough, pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) petitioned the U.K's Royal Institute for International Affairs not to confer the 2017 Chatham House award on Mrs Osei after she was shortlisted for the prestigious award. According to AFAG, the EC boss faced too many lawsuits in the run up to the 2016 elections hence did not deserve the award. The E.C was dragged to court a record twelve times under her leadership in less than 24 months.
Currently before the Chief Justice is an impeachment petition filed by some faceless staff of the Electoral Commission against the chairperson. Again, she is before court in a suit seeking to have the E.C to explain measures it has put in place to implement the Representation of the People's Amendment law, ROPAL. Mrs. Osei in her determination to ensure accountability at the EC recently sought the intervention of the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) to investigate the disappearance of nearly GH¢500,000 belonging to the Commission's Endowment Fund, a decision that has led a Deputy Commissioner, Mrs. Georgina Opoku- Amankwa being asked to proceed on leave. This created a whole lot of hullabaloo at the Commission culminating in a petition to the President listing a catalogue of malfeasance at the E.C.
It is instructive to note that in her acceptance speech at the Awards ceremony, Mrs Osei defined courage as ignoring one's fears and going on, focused on the end goals and the solutions to the challenges describing it as Ghana's greatest need. She noted that the Ghanaian society faces two major challenges; ignorance and the need for bold leadership at all levels to address those challenges. Mrs Osei indeed hit the nail on the head when she indicated that she is aiming at ensuring that the process of electing the country's political leaders is credible and transparent whiles ensuring national peace, stability and cohesion in its aftermath.
The Woman of Courage Award conferred on the EC chairperson, Mrs. Charlotte Osei has indeed vindicated her handling of the 2016 general election which contrary to the expectation of her detractors was won by Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo and not John Dramani Mahama who appointed her to office. It is unfortunate Mrs. Osei did not get most of the women's groups going to her defence when her back was at the wall. Some rather joined the chorus in lambasting her adding more to her woes. This fuels the perception that women are their own enemies.
It is obvious Mrs. Osei was vilified because she was a woman. The EC Chairperson no doubt has proven to be a woman of valour and a role model for the up and coming youth. The award should motivate her to do more to enhance Ghana's democratic credentials in the comity of nations.
Mrs. Osei has indeed made us proud and should be applauded and not vilified.
BY JUSTICE MINGLE A JOURNALIST.
Presenting the award, the U.S Ambassador to Ghana Robert Jackson affirmed that Mrs. Charlotte Osei epitomises the phrase woman of courage. He commended the EC Chairperson for her bravery before, during and after the 2016 general election. According to Mr. Jackson the reforms Mrs Osei undertook at the Electoral Commission guaranteed the credibility of the 2016 elections and minimised the risk of a disputed outcome.
In fact, Mrs Osei can aptly be described as the most vilified public servant in Ghana today. Since her appointment to the position as EC chairperson, Mrs Osei has known no peace. As the first woman to be head of Ghana's electoral body, she has been described by some political actors in derogatory terms. As if those were not enough, pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) petitioned the U.K's Royal Institute for International Affairs not to confer the 2017 Chatham House award on Mrs Osei after she was shortlisted for the prestigious award. According to AFAG, the EC boss faced too many lawsuits in the run up to the 2016 elections hence did not deserve the award. The E.C was dragged to court a record twelve times under her leadership in less than 24 months.
Currently before the Chief Justice is an impeachment petition filed by some faceless staff of the Electoral Commission against the chairperson. Again, she is before court in a suit seeking to have the E.C to explain measures it has put in place to implement the Representation of the People's Amendment law, ROPAL. Mrs. Osei in her determination to ensure accountability at the EC recently sought the intervention of the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) to investigate the disappearance of nearly GH¢500,000 belonging to the Commission's Endowment Fund, a decision that has led a Deputy Commissioner, Mrs. Georgina Opoku- Amankwa being asked to proceed on leave. This created a whole lot of hullabaloo at the Commission culminating in a petition to the President listing a catalogue of malfeasance at the E.C.
It is instructive to note that in her acceptance speech at the Awards ceremony, Mrs Osei defined courage as ignoring one's fears and going on, focused on the end goals and the solutions to the challenges describing it as Ghana's greatest need. She noted that the Ghanaian society faces two major challenges; ignorance and the need for bold leadership at all levels to address those challenges. Mrs Osei indeed hit the nail on the head when she indicated that she is aiming at ensuring that the process of electing the country's political leaders is credible and transparent whiles ensuring national peace, stability and cohesion in its aftermath.
The Woman of Courage Award conferred on the EC chairperson, Mrs. Charlotte Osei has indeed vindicated her handling of the 2016 general election which contrary to the expectation of her detractors was won by Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo and not John Dramani Mahama who appointed her to office. It is unfortunate Mrs. Osei did not get most of the women's groups going to her defence when her back was at the wall. Some rather joined the chorus in lambasting her adding more to her woes. This fuels the perception that women are their own enemies.
It is obvious Mrs. Osei was vilified because she was a woman. The EC Chairperson no doubt has proven to be a woman of valour and a role model for the up and coming youth. The award should motivate her to do more to enhance Ghana's democratic credentials in the comity of nations.
Mrs. Osei has indeed made us proud and should be applauded and not vilified.
BY JUSTICE MINGLE A JOURNALIST.
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