Jean Mensa

Jean Mensa
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana
Incumbent
Assumed office 2018
President	Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Preceded by	Charlotte Osei
Personal details
Nationality	Ghanaian
Relations	Jacob Amekor Blukoo-Allotey (Father)
Education	St. Mary's Senior High School
Alma mater	University of Ghana
Profession	Lawyer

Jean Adukwei Mensa is a Ghanaian lawyer by profession who has been serving as chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana since July 2018. She was nominated by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo to take over the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) from her predecessor, Charlotte Osei. Jean Mensa was born on November 12, 1971. Prior to assuming the role of chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa spent an 18-year career at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), rising to the position of executive director. As the EC chairperson, Jean Mensa declared the then presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP as the president-elect of the December 7th, 2020 Presidential Election.

Early life and education

Jean was born on November 12, 1971, in Accra to Ga parents. Her father, Jacob Blukoo-Allotey, a physician who was awarded the Order of the Volta in 2008. Jean received her secondary education at St. Mary's Senior High School in Accra, after completion of her basic education at Ridge Church School. She studied at the University of Ghana Law school and received her degree in 1993. She was called to the Ghana Bar Association in 1995.

Career

Jean was appointed as the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana on 23 July 2018, after her predecessor Charlotte Osei was removed from office. For two decades, Jean has been a leader in policy research and advocacy. She has been involved in the development of policies, such as the Presidential Transition Act of 2012, the Revised 1992 Constitution of Ghana (draft), the Political Parties Funding Bill, and the Revised Political Parties Bill. Her specialization has been developing and implementing policy alternatives, that reflect international best practice but are also tailored to Ghana's needs. This is her first ever significant public sector appointment.

Jean was sworn in by the President of Ghana, Akufo-Addo. The swearing came in after a Ghanaian citizen by the name, Fafali Nyonatorto sought to halt the President from going through with the process of appointing a new Electoral Commission chair. The citizen challenged the removal of the former Electoral Commission to enable the court to hear her substantive case. The President claimed the removal of the former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Charlotte Osei, from her office was carried on with no malice. The president said it was expected of him to discharge the constitutional mandate.

In 2010, Jean Mensa was part of a nine-member constitutional review committee that was set up by the late president John Evans Atta Mills, to review the 1992 constitution. The role of the committee was to consult with Ghanaians on the operation of the 1992 Constitution and on any changes that needed to be made to the constitution. Unfortunately however, after a successful review exercise, there was little to no implementation of the recommendations from the review exercise.

Jean facilitated the IEA's Evening Encounter Series, Ghana's Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates, as well as Town Hall Meetings for parliamentary candidates. Prior to working at the IEA, Mensa also worked at Amarkai Amarteifio Chambers (1995-1997) and BJ Da Rocha Chambers as a Junior Lawyer (1998).

Mensa has been ranked by the African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE) as one of the Top 60 outstanding, inspiring and hardworking corporate women leaders in Ghana (2017). She has won several awards including the Excellent Leadership Award by the EXLA Group (2013) and the Young Professional Role Model in Governance Award presented by the Young Professionals and Youth Coalition Initiative (2014).

In July 2023, Jean Mensa was selected as a member of ECOWAS and African Union (AU) Joint Pre-election Fact-finding Mission to Liberia ahead of the country's election on 10 October 2023. She received an award as the chairperson of Electoral Commission of Ghana for being the best head of a government institution for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies category for 2022 and 2023 audit period.

Personal Life

Jean Mensa is married to Dr. Charles Mensa, a former resident director of the Volta Aluminium Company.

Controversy

Voter registry

The Electoral Commission (EC) chaired by Jean was cautioned by the former president of Ghana John Mahama not to compile a new voter's register. He claimed there is not much time left for the general election to compile a new voters' register. He said Jean Mensah and her outfit will be held responsible if the country turns into a turmoil after the 2020 general elections take place. Demonstrations took place across the country in three cities Tamale, Kumasi and Accra to sound their view against the compilation. In September 2023, the Electoral commission headed by Jean Mensa begun the registration for new registrants, which also served a chance to all people who lost or attained 18 years of age to be able to register for new Voter ID cards to help them participate legally in coming elections. The registration was successful and led to a successful 2024 election.