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Charlotte Osei

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Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana
In office
2015–2018[1]
PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama
Preceded byKwadwo Afari-Gyan
Succeeded byJean Adukwei Mensa
Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education
In office
2011–2015
Preceded byLarry Bimi
Succeeded byJosephine Nkrumah
Personal details
Born (1969-02-01) 1 February 1969 (age 55)
NationalityGhana Ghanaian
Alma materUniversity of Ghana
Ghana National College
ProfessionLawyer

Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei (born 1 February 1969)[2] is the UN International Elections Commissioner, a Ghanaian lawyer and former chairperson[2] of the Electoral Commission of Ghana from 2015 until she was dismissed in June 2018[3] on grounds of financial malfeasance.[4][5][6] Her dismissal has been challenged in the Supreme Court of Ghana by two separate writs.[7] She became the first female to serve in the office of the Electoral Commission of Ghana since the independence of Ghana.[8] Before her appointment she was the chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education.[9] In May 2019, she was appointed by the United Nations to be on a team of international advisors, to assist in managing the 2019 presidential elections in Afghanistan.[10]

Early life and education

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Charlotte Osei was born in Nigeria.[11] Her mother, who is of mixed West African nationality, is not Ghanaian and her father, also of mixed west African nationality, has a parent being Ghanaian.

Charlotte Osei had her secondary education at the Ghana National College in Cape Coast. She proceeded to the University of Ghana where she obtained her LLB in 1992 and Ghana School of Law where she obtained and called to the bar in 1994.[12] She also holds Master of Business Leadership (MBL) from the University of South Africa, Pretoria (2006), Master of Laws, (LLM), from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.[13]

Career

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Charlotte Osei was a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon in 1994 to 1995.[14] She worked as a lawyer for Laryea Company in Accra from 1994 to 1997, then as Senior Legal Officer at the Ghana Commercial Bank from 1997 until 2002.[14] She also lectured part time in commercial law at the university from 1997 until 2003.[15]

From 2002 until 2005, Osei worked as general counsel for Unibank Ghana, and then from 2005 until 2011 as founder and lead counsel for business lawyers,[14] Prime Attorneys. She was chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education from 2011 until 2015.[16] In 2015, she was appointed chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana[17] and she presided as the Returning Officer for Ghana's 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections[18] In May 2019, the United Nations appointed Charlotte Osei as an International Non Voting Electoral Commissioner to Afghanistan, this was confirmed by a Presidential Decree issued by the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani.[19] As a Non Voting Electoral Commissioner she provided guidance to the Commission in the preparation and drafting of all election related regulations and policies, and support in the adjudication of complaints in a fair, independent and legal manner to ensure electoral justice throughout the entire electoral cycle.

Controversies and allegations

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On 28 June 2018, Osei was removed following a committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo to investigate complaints and corruption allegations leveled against her.[20][21] The committee was set up based on the provision stipulated under Article 146(4) of the Ghanaian constitution, the recommendations of the committee required Osei to be removed due to misbehavior pursuant to Article 146(1) of the constitution.[22] The president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo in accordance with the recommendations and provisions of Article156(9) of the Ghanaian constitution directed her immediate removal from office.[23][24] The immediate past Chair of the Electoral Commission breached procurement laws in awarding several contracts prior to 2016 Ghana elections, a report by the committee that investigated her indicated.[25] Osei indicated that she would respond to the accusations made against her later. She was delaying her response due to the sudden death of the immediate Vice President of Ghana, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.[26] The grounds for her dismissal are being challenged in the Supreme Court of Ghana by two separate writs filed by Fafali Nyonator and Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, a newspaper editor in Ghana.[7]

Awards and recognition

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Publications

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  • “Citizenship, Customary Law and a Gendered Jurisprudence: A Socio-Legal Perspective.” by C. Kesson-Smith and W. Tettey in "Critical Perspectives on Politics and Socio-Economic Development in Ghana" (African social studies series), Brill Publishers, 25 Apr 2003, editors: Tettey, Wisdom J., Puplampu, Korbla P., Berman, Joshua[29]

Personal life

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Charlotte is married with two kids.[30]

References

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  1. ^ Nyabor, Jonas (28 June 2018). "Akufo-Addo removes Charlotte Osei, two deputies from office". citinewsroom.com. Citi News Room. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b Gracia, Zindzy (16 August 2018). "Profile: Charlotte Osei biography and pictures". Yen- Ghana news. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  3. ^ Ayitey, Charles (29 June 2018). "Nana Addo sacks Charlotte Osei and three deputies for "misbehavior and incompetence"". Yen - Ghana news. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  4. ^ "NCCE boss named EC Chairperson". Graphic Ghana. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  5. ^ "EC Boss Charlotte Osei and two deputies fired by President Akufo Addo - Asembi.com". Asembi.com. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Appoint me as new EC Boss - Kennedy Agyapong". GhanaWeb. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Kweku Baako challenges Charlotte Osei's removal in court". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  8. ^ Nyavor, George (26 June 2015). "NPP congratulates new EC Chair; says she is competent". Myjoyonline. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Agenda 2030: Women in power and decision-making". Ghana News Agency. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Charlotte Osei gets UN Elections Commission job in Afghanistan". Graphic Ghana. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  11. ^ "charllote osei place of birth - Google Search". Google. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  12. ^ "5 things you didn't know about the fired EC boss, Charlotte Osei". GhanaWeb. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Mrs Charlotte Osei, 1st female and youngest EC Chair brings freshness to job - Graphic Online". 29 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei, Electoral Commission Chairperson". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  15. ^ Nyabor, Jonas (26 June 2015). "New EC boss' full CV |". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Charlotte Osei is new NCCE boss". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  17. ^ "Charlotte Osei appointed new EC Chairperson - Government of Ghana". Government of Ghana. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Election 2016 will be very transparent - Charlotte Osei | Ghana Election 2016". African elections. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  19. ^ "Charlotte Osei appointed UN International Elections Commissioner". Myjoyonline. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  20. ^ "Why was the EC Boss, Charlotte Osei sacked? - Asembi.com". Asembi. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  21. ^ "Akufo-Addo sacks Charlotte Osei, two deputies". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  22. ^ "Akufo-Addo removes Charlotte Osei, two deputies from office". Citi Newsroom. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  23. ^ Frimpong, Enoch Darfah. "Charlotte Osei and two EC deputies sacked". Graphic Online. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  24. ^ "Breaking News: Charlotte Osei, two others removed". Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  25. ^ "Leaked report details why EC Boss was sacked". Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  26. ^ "Charlotte Osei steps out in style after sack as EC Chairperson". AfricaWeb Publishing B.V. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  27. ^ Nyabor, Jonas (26 June 2015). "New EC boss' full CV". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  28. ^ "Charlotte Osei gets honored with top award by US gov't amidst her troubles in Ghana". Yen - Ghana news. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  29. ^ "Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei ( Electoral Commission Chairperson)". AfricaWeb Publishing B.V. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  30. ^ RASHAD (4 February 2019). "Finally, meet former EC Boss Charlotte Osei's "Secret" handsome husband [Photos]". GhPage. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
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Preceded by Chair of the Electoral Commission of Ghana
2015 – 2018 		Succeeded by
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