The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rejected the appointment of Emelia Afifi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), questioning her alleged political affiliation and calling on President John Dramani Mahama to withdraw the appointment.
Miss Agbenyo was among two persons sworn into office as Deputy Chairpersons of the EC by President Mahama on Monday, October 12, 2026. The other appointee is Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, a former Director of Finance at the EC and a lecturer in law at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
In a statement signed by its National Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the NPP said it was concerned about Mrs Agbenyo’s previous involvement in the activities of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), particularly during the party’s preparations for the 2024 general elections.
The party pointed to the NDC’s August 2024 announcement of sectoral spokespersons for its 2024 manifesto, which listed Madam Emelia Affi Agbenyo as one of its three spokespersons on governance.
According to the NPP, her role as a manifesto spokesperson and alleged participation in NDC campaign activities raised questions about her ability to discharge the responsibilities of a Deputy Chairperson of the EC with the neutrality expected of the Commission.
The party said the issue was particularly significant because the EC would be responsible for administering key electoral processes ahead of the 2028 general elections. It argued that public confidence in the Commission was essential to the credibility and acceptance of electoral outcomes.
The NPP also accused President Mahama of contradicting his earlier position on the appointment of politically affiliated persons to the EC. It cited comments he made in March 2023 criticising the appointment of persons he described as known NPP activists to the Commission and calling for an amendment to Article 43(2) of the 1992 Constitution to require parliamentary approval of EC commissioners.
The party therefore called on President Mahama to withdraw Mrs Agbenyo’s appointment and urged the Council of State to explain to Ghanaians the advice it provided in connection with the appointment.
The NPP further called for reforms to the process for appointing members of the Electoral Commission as part of the ongoing constitutional review process, saying such reforms should reflect the proposal previously advanced by President Mahama.
The party also criticised remarks attributed to Mr Asamoah in his acceptance speech, describing them as concerning and urging that statements that could affect public confidence in the electoral process be addressed.
The NPP said it would use all lawful means available to protect what it described as the integrity of Ghana’s electoral system and called on civil society organisations, religious bodies, the media and other stakeholders to join the discussion on the independence and credibility of the EC.
President Mahama, during the swearing-in ceremony, charged the two new Deputy Chairpersons to discharge their constitutional mandate without fear or favour towards any political party or candidate.
By: Daniel Orlando/newsalertgh.com
