Emelia Affi Agbenyo’s Deputy EC Chair appointment sets ‘terrible precedent’ – Kwesi Botchwey Jr

A member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) national communications team, Kwesi Botchwey Jr, has questioned the political independence of Emelia Affi Agbenyo following her appointment as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).

President John Dramani Mahama swore in Ms Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah as Deputy Chairpersons of the EC on Monday, October 12.

The appointments followed the resignation of Dr Bossman Asare and the retirement of Samuel Tettey.

The appointments have been met with criticism from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which alleges that Ms Agbenyo was an active member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and played a role in its 2024 election campaign.

Reacting to this, the NPP communicator argued that although the appointee’s academic qualifications and competence are not the main issues, her alleged political affiliations raises concerns about her ability to perform her duties independently.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Tuesday, October 13, Botchwey Jr said President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment contradicted his promise to reset Ghana’s governance system.

“The question should be as to whether or not she has the political mindset and the political independence to discharge her roles and functions as a deputy electoral commissioner,” he said.

The NPP communicator stressed that the EC, as an independent constitutional body, should not be perceived as a place for rewarding political loyalists.

“They are setting a very terrible precedent. Tomorrow, NPP will come also come into office and say we have appointed Kojo Bamba as deputy electoral commissioner,” he added.