NPP rejects Mahama's appointment of Emelia Agbenyo as EC deputy, demands withdrawal

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rejected President John Dramani Mahama's appointment of Madam Emelia Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).

The opposition party says her past work for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) makes her unfit to help oversee the 2028 general elections.

In a statement issued Tuesday and signed by its National Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the NPP said it "rejects this appointment" and called on the President to withdraw it.

The party said Madam Agbenyo was the NDC's governance sector spokesperson while the party prepared its 2024 manifesto, and that she campaigned for the NDC ahead of the 2024 polls. It said videos show her on NDC rally platforms and wearing NDC campaign T-shirts.

"Less than two years on, the President has placed her among the top leadership of the institution that will conduct the 2028 general elections. We find this unacceptable," the statement said.

The NPP argued that her links to the NDC would affect her neutrality, transparency and professionalism in office. It said it could not trust "an active NDC operative" to respect the law.

Exactly what he condemned
The party also pointed to remarks President Mahama made in March 2023, when he was in opposition. He criticised the appointment of people he described as party activists to the EC. At the time he also called for Article 43(2) of the Constitution to be amended so that Parliament would have to approve such appointments.

Under Article 43(2), the President appoints members of the Electoral Commission on the advice of the Council of State.

"The President has now done exactly what he condemned," the NPP said. The party also said Mr Mahama never provided evidence for his 2023 claims.

The party warned that public confidence in the EC is "the foundation on which every election result rests." If that confidence is lost, it said, voter registration, boundary decisions and the declaration of results would all come under suspicion, threatening the country's peace and stability.

Council of State, constitutional review

Besides asking for the appointment to be withdrawn, the NPP called on the Council of State to explain publicly what advice it gave on the matter. It also urged the government to use the ongoing constitutional review process to change how EC members are appointed, in line with the President's 2023 proposal.

The statement also criticised an acceptance speech by a "Mr. Asamoah." It described his remarks as "deeply troubling" and said they appeared closely aligned with the interests of the NDC.

The party said it would use "every lawful means available" to protect the integrity of the electoral system. It invited civil society organisations, religious bodies, the media and the public to join its call.

The Presidency, the NDC and the Electoral Commission had not responded to the NPP's statement at the time of filing.