Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Edudzi Tamakloe, says any process to remove the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa, must strictly adhere to constitutional provisions not political pressure.

Mr. Tamakloe's statement comes in response to recent calls by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) national chairman, Asiedu Nketia, who asked for the EC Chair’s removal.

While acknowledging Asiedu Nketia’s long-standing concerns about Jean Mensa’s performance, he maintained that the Constitution not political sentiment must guide  such action.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, he said, “The views expressed by my National Chairman are views he has always expressed about the Commission. I remember vividly, my chair say, that Jean Mensa at IEA, had a lot of respect for her because she was basically the melting point for political parties. Subsequently, having become the commissioner, the conduct that she put up has never lived up to my national Chairman's expectation both as General Secretary of our party and the national chairman."

Despite this, Mr. Tamakloe stressed that legal safeguards are in place to protect the integrity of the process.

"What is important is that anybody, be it the commissioners, of whoever, their removal processes are not at the whims and caprices of politicians. It is the constitution. So ultimately, the threshold that the Constitution sets, if that threshold is met, that is it."

He also commented on the recent petition by IMANI Africa, which called for Jean Mensa’s removal.

He praised the group’s credibility and diversity of thought, but reiterated that any decision must remain within the bounds of the 1992 Constitution.

“IMANI is a think tank that has established credibility. I’ve never seen a think tank with such internal diversity. But ultimately, any decision must comply with the Constitution,” he said.