Charlotte Osei is Pulse Ghana's Person of the Year

Effah

December 20, 2016 6:52 AM

She was insulted by Hassan Ayariga, the flag bearer of the All People's Party, who was disqualified by the Electoral Commission (EC) from contesting the December Elections, on Class FM he spat an angry tirade, saying she was not qualified to be the commission chairperson.

Chair of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei deftly guided Ghana into and through the 2016 election. Whether or not you agree with the decisions she was mandated to make through the process, she worked to keep the nation updated on the election, and the political parties in check through this contentious time.

We at Pulse Ghana are honouring her with the title of Pulse Ghana Person of the Year.

Osei's nomination and appointment took many by surprise considering her gender and her perceived inexperience. For many, she was not suitable to replace the towering personality that was Dr.Afari Djan, the retiring commissioner.

She faced a wrath of allegations and abuse from politicians to commentators and those on social media.

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Her detractors spat insults and accusations. Many were sexist.

Former attorney general and citizen vigilante, Martin Amidu personally wrote to her, demanding her resignation after describing her as incompetent and arrogant following the disqualification of 13 aspiring presidential candidates.

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Aside from the EC decisions, Osei had to defend her nationality, with people saying she is Nigerian so should not be in the role.

"My mother was married to a Nigerian – my stepfather. He died after five years in the marriage. So, that makes me Nigerian? "I went to school in Nigeria; my early education, so that makes me a Nigerian? I also went to school in Canada, so, I guess that makes me Canadian.

"And my stepmother – my father's wife, who is also a mother to me – has been married to my father for more than 40 years. She's an Akyem, so, I guess that makes me Akyem as well. We thank God she's not Chinese, that’ll probably make me Chinese as well," Mrs Charlotte Osei had said in prior interviews.

Osei was not perfect. Some of her decisions including an ill-timed make over of the Commission and a reticence to heed counsel meant she was a constant presence in the cross hairs of the media during the year.

Charlotte Osei showed that elegance and stubbornness can be bedfellows.In the end, she delivered an election that faced its own challenges but was also a greater improvement on several that had been held previously.

Osei will never be the political soldier's favourite but in the end, she proved capable.

Editor's Note: Notable mention also goes for the finalists, Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party, the late Dr.David Abdulai, Abraham Attah and philanthropist Elijah Amoo Addo of the Food For All charity .

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