The Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has formally determined that there is no prima facie case to warrant further investigations into petitions seeking the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, her deputies, and the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng. According to a statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama had previously referred ten petitions to the judiciary for a formal determination. The ruling effectively brings closure to the legislative and administrative efforts to unseat the heads of these critical national institutions.
The referral process, which began in November 2025, was conducted in accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution and the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). The Chief Justice was tasked with ascertaining whether the allegations disclosed a legal basis for the establishment of a committee to investigate the officials. By a letter dated January 26, 2026, the Chief Justice informed the President that the petitions failed to establish a prima facie case, meaning there was insufficient evidence to justify a full removal proceeding or further investigation.
The Presidency’s statement, signed by Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, confirmed that seven of the petitions were targeted at the EC Chairperson and her deputies, while three separate petitions sought the removal of the Special Prosecutor. The Chief Justice’s decision reinforces the independence of these offices, protecting them from arbitrary removal based on petitions that lack legal weight.
As of February 18, 2026, the EC and the OSP will continue under their current leadership as the nation prepares for upcoming local and regional administrative cycles. The Chief Justice’s role in this process is strictly constitutional, ensuring that the threshold for removing officeholders is high to maintain institutional stability.
