| Intro | Ghanaian incumbent elctoral Commissioner |
| From |
Ghana |
| Gender | female |
| Birth | 1 February 1969 |
| Age: | 51 years |
| Star sign | Aquarius |
Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei was born on 1 February 1969. She is the current chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. She became the first female to serve in this office since independence of Ghana. Before her appointment she was the chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education.
Osei was born in Nigeria, her mother is of Nigerian nationality and her father is Ghanaian. She is married to a Ghanaian.
Education
Although born in Nigeria, Charlotte 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. Charlotte also holds Master of Business Leadership (MBL), University of South Africa, Pretoria (2006), Master of Laws, (LLM), Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Career Summary
2015 – present Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana
Presided over Ghana’s 2016 General Elections.Acted as the Returning Officer for the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
2011 – 2015 Chairperson, National Commission for Civic Education
Providing education to Ghanaians on their civic rights and responsibilities, voter education and knowledge of Ghana’s Constitution in order to strengthen Ghana’s democracy. Involves managing 1700+ staff in over 200 offices nationwide.
2005 – 2011 Founder and Lead Counsel, Prime Attorneys (Business Lawyers)
2002 – 2005 General Counsel & Company Secretary, Unibank (Ghana) Limited, Accra
1997 – 2002 Senior Legal Officer, Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd
1997 – 2003 Lecturer (Part-time) [Commercial Law, Company Law, Law of Contracts] Faculty of Law, University of Ghana
1994 – 1997 Associate Barrister and Solicitor, Laryea, Laryea & Company, Accra
1994 – 1995 Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon
Awards
1996 Faculty of Law, Queen’s University, Canada
E.S. Aidoo/Ghana School of Law, Best Student in Conveyancing & Drafting
1994 F.K. Apaloo/Ghana School of Law, Best Student in Company Law & Practice
1992 Ghana Bar Association, Excellence, LLB Final Examinations, University of Ghana
1991 Volta Hall Award, Best Arts Results, First University Examinations, University of Ghana