BY Daniel Bampoe
The resignation of Electoral Commission (EC) Deputy Chairperson in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, and the retirement of Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, have reignited debate over whether sustained pressure from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its allies has finally reshaped the leadership structure of Ghana’s electoral management body.
The departures come less than a year after intense public and political campaigns demanding accountability from the Electoral Commission leadership, particularly following a series of petitions submitted to President John Dramani Mahama seeking the removal of EC Chairperson Jean Mensa and her two deputies.
While government officials insist the exits are routine and unrelated to political pressure, critics and political observers argue that the developments mark a significant turning point in a long-running battle over the future direction of the Commission.
On Monday, it emerged that Dr. Eric Bossman Asare tendered his resignation earlier in June 2026 and is expected to officially leave office on July 31, 2026.
According to information made public by the Presidency, the Deputy EC Chair cited his desire to return to academia and continue his professional career at the University of Ghana, where he served prior to his appointment to the Commission.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Presidency on June 15, 2026, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed receiving the resignation letter.
“I can also confirm that he has submitted a letter to His Excellency the President indicating that effective 31st July 2026, he will resign his position as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission,” Kwakye Ofosu announced.
According to the Minister, Dr. Bossman Asare expressed gratitude to both the President and the people of Ghana for the opportunity to serve, while explaining that he intended to pursue his academic career full-time at the University of Ghana.
At the same briefing, government officials also confirmed that Samuel Tettey had already exited the Commission after attaining the compulsory retirement age.
Tettey, who supervised electoral operations for several years and played a key role in the management of multiple elections, reportedly retired about a month earlier.
The government says steps are already underway to fill the vacancies created by the departures.
Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that a nominee to replace Samuel Tettey has already been submitted to the Council of State for consideration.
Once consultations are completed, an official announcement will be made. A separate process is expected to begin in the coming months to identify a replacement for Dr. Bossman Asare.
The exits represent a major change within the top hierarchy of the Electoral Commission, an institution that has been at the centre of political controversy since the appointment of Jean Mensa and her deputies in 2018 by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Growing Political Pressure
For several years, the NDC has maintained that the current Electoral Commission leadership lacked the confidence of a significant section of the Ghanaian public.
The party consistently accused the Commission of presiding over flawed electoral processes, including controversies surrounding the compilation of a new voters register, the conduct of the 2020 general elections, and subsequent electoral exercises.
Those criticisms intensified after the NDC returned to power in the 2024 elections. Civil society organizations, political activists, lawyers and pressure groups subsequently mounted campaigns demanding greater scrutiny of the Commission’s operations.
The pressure reached a climax in late 2025 when ten separate petitions were submitted to President Mahama calling for the removal of key constitutional office holders.
Seven of those petitions targeted EC Chairperson Jean Mensa, Dr. Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey, while three others sought the removal of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
The petitioners accused the EC leadership of poor management, lack of accountability and failures in the administration of elections. Under Article 146 of the Constitution, President Mahama was required to forward the petitions to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to determine whether a prima facie case existed.
Following a review of the petitions, the Chief Justice concluded that there was no prima facie case warranting further proceedings against the EC Chairperson, her deputies, or the Special Prosecutor. That ruling effectively ended attempts to remove them through constitutional processes.
Political Significance of the Departures
Although government officials have maintained that Dr. Bossman Asare’s resignation is voluntary and that Samuel Tettey’s exit is purely due to retirement, political analysts note that the departures come at a sensitive period when discussions about reforming state institutions remain high on the national agenda.
What remains unchanged is that Jean Mensa continues as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission following the dismissal of the petitions against her.
However, with two of her most senior deputies leaving within weeks of each other, the Commission now faces one of its most significant leadership transitions since its reconstitution in 2018.
