By Nelson Ayivor
Government Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has defended the Mahama administration’s decision to provide public updates on sensitive petitions involving public office holders, insisting that the shift toward openness is a deliberate effort to strengthen public trust.
His comments followed growing national interest in whether the Presidency has received a petition from Electoral Commission (EC) staff member Joseph Blankson Adumadzie, who is seeking the removal of the EC Chairperson, Madam Jean Mensa, and her two deputies.
Kwakye Ofosu explained that the Presidency has “not yet confirmed” receiving the petition, noting that such documents typically pass through the Secretary to the President, and the established procedures will be followed once it is sighted.
“Normally, it will go to the Secretary to the President if it is addressed to the President. I’ve engaged him. He has not sighted it yet, but I’m sure that if he does, there’s a process, a long-standing process, that this goes through, and any information on that will be conveyed to the public.”
Just as the government openly communicated issues relating to the Chief Justice earlier in the year, Kwakye Ofosu’s indication was that if such a document exists and reaches the Secretary’s office, the public will be duly informed. He also added that there was no information about any other petition of a similar nature.
Kwakye Ofosu emphasised that the administration of President John Dramani Mahama sees transparency not as an optional gesture but a responsibility associated with public office, arguing that citizens deserve to know how sensitive allegations against public officials are handled, especially when those processes were previously kept away from public attention.
“The Chief Justice became a matter of public commentary because we put it out first, of course respecting the constitutional processes,” he added, explaining the government’s intended role in such matters. He said the new posture reflects the Mahama administration’s belief that transparency enhances accountability and helps maintain confidence in democratic institutions.
Explaining the Shift:
Speaking further about why the Presidency is being more proactive on matters previously handled quietly, Kwakye Ofosu insisted that the approach is intentional, stressing that the administration recognises that occupying public office means handling public resources, and therefore, citizens must be informed about how decisions are made.
“There’s a need for transparency and accountability. We hold this office in trust. Ten months ago, I was not the one doing this job. It was somebody else. So it’s not a position that we own. We pass through that position for a brief moment,” he explained.
The Government ’s Spokesperson argued that secrecy around petitions breeds suspicion and undermines confidence in state institutions. Keeping the public informed, on the other hand, prevents unnecessary speculation and ensures that the processes set out in Ghana’s laws are respected.
He noted that since official duties are executed using national resources and authority, the public has “an inherent right to know,” what actions are being taken in their name and it must be exercised by those in power.
He explained that updating citizens about petitions and the procedures they trigger is a matter of fairness and responsible governance. “The same people need to know exactly what we are doing with their mandate and resources,” he added.
He further pointed to the earlier case involving the Chief Justice as an example of why transparency matters and how it contributes to stabilising public discourse and reducing speculation. He stressed that no official should be removed or investigated without the public understanding how the process began.
Throughout his explanation, Kwakye Ofosu reiterated that the government’s decision to publicly communicate sensitive processes does not violate any legal provisions, as the administration remains fully committed to operating within the constitutional framework and “ensuring that the public is informed only within legally accepted boundaries.”
The intention, he explained, is not to sensationalise issues but to ensure that Ghanaians remain aware of actions taken by a government operating on their behalf.