NPP demands withdrawal of Emelia Agbenyo as EC deputy chairperson

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to rescind the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC). The demand follows the swearing-in of Agbenyo and Dr. Joseph Kwaku Asamoah on October 12 to fill vacancies within the commission. The NPP alleges that Agbenyo is an active member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), claiming her history of public campaigning for the party creates an irreconcilable conflict of interest and undermines public trust in the electoral umpire ahead of the 2028 general elections.

NPP National Communications Director Dennis Miracles Aboagye argued that Agbenyo’s alleged political ties make her unsuitable for a role that requires strict neutrality. The opposition party criticized the Council of State for failing to identify her partisan background before recommending her appointment and suggested the possibility of legal action to challenge her suitability. Aboagye emphasized that the core issue is maintaining the EC's credibility during high-stakes disputes between the major parties, asserting that no current commissioner has as much documented evidence of partisan bias as Agbenyo.

In response, Minister of State for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu defended the appointment, describing it as part of the NDC's "reset" agenda. He admitted that Agbenyo’s appointment was intended to "tilt the balance" of a commission the government claims was previously "packed" with NPP partisans during the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo. Kwakye Ofosu accused the NPP of double standards, noting that they supported similar appointments in the past. He maintained that personal political beliefs should not disqualify qualified professionals from serving impartially in state institutions.

Civil society organizations and political experts have expressed concern over the escalating cycle of partisan appointments. Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, a fellow at CDD-Ghana, warned that appointing openly partisan figures damages the EC's independence and public confidence. He suggested that such appointments should be subjected to an "Akufo-Addo test" to evaluate whether they can operate with integrity and fairness regardless of their political sympathies. Groups like Election Watch Ghana and ace journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr have called for constitutional reforms to remove the president's power to appoint EC officials, advocating instead for a more transparent, merit-based selection process.

The controversy has also drawn fire from the Convention People’s Party (CPP), which questioned the absence of broader representation if the government intended to balance the commission. As the EC prepares for upcoming electoral cycles, experts urge the new deputies to focus on building consensus through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC). Political scientists Professor Joseph Atsu Ayee and Dr. Osae-Kwapong emphasized that the new officials must work to repair the commission's public image and ensure electoral integrity despite the current political friction.