'What is wrong with tilting the balance of packed NPPs at EC with Emelia Afi Agbenyo?

Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has defended President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), dismissing the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) objections.

The NPP on Tuesday called on President Mahama to withdraw Ms Agbenyo’s appointment, arguing that her alleged political activities in support of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) raised questions about her ability to serve impartially on the commission.

In a statement, the opposition party cited videos it claimed showed Ms Agbenyo campaigning on NDC platforms and wearing the party’s campaign T-shirts.

"She is seen in NDC campaign T-shirts openly advocating for the NDC. Less than two years on, the President has placed her among the top leadership of the institution that will conduct the 2028 general elections," the NPP stated.

However, speaking in an interview with Accra-based Joy FM on Tuesday, Mr Kwakye Ofosu argued that concerns about Ms Agbenyo’s political affiliation should be assessed in light of her conduct in office.

"there are people who may have legitimate concerns but those concerns in my view will be mitigated by the conduct of Madam Afi herself, in the role that she's been given."

He accused the NPP of applying double standards, arguing that the party had previously supported appointments to the EC involving individuals affiliated with the NPP.

"I have challenged the NPP, and indeed I will address the NPP because they are the ones who have started this narrative and creating the impression that they abhor the appointment of people with partisan affiliation to the EC when they packed the place [EC] with NPP people."

Mr Kwakye Ofosu also argued that the government’s Reset Agenda could include addressing what he described as an imbalance in the composition of state institutions.

"The other issue is that, a reset could also mean balancing a lopsided state institution, why is it acceptable for us to have a situation that out of seven commissioners, who manage Ghana's election, almost four of them are NPP, why should we live with that, what is wrong with tilting the balance," Mr Kwakye Ofosu said.

NPP questions Agbenyo’s neutrality

In a statement dated October 13, 2026, and signed by its National Director of Communications, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the NPP said Ms Agbenyo’s appointment was unacceptable, citing President Mahama’s previous position on the appointment of politically affiliated persons to the EC.

The party said it was compelled to remind Ghanaians of the President’s comments in March 2023, when he criticised the appointment of persons he described as party activists to the commission and called for Article 43(2) of the Constitution to be amended to require parliamentary approval for such appointments.

The NPP also questioned whether Ms Agbenyo could discharge her duties impartially, arguing that her alleged affiliation with the NDC could affect her commitment to neutrality, transparency and professionalism.

It further expressed concern about the acceptance speech delivered by the other newly appointed Deputy Chairperson, Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, describing his remarks as potentially damaging to national peace and stability.

The party said "the statement bore the hallmarks of a partisan agenda, one that appears closely aligned with the interest of the NDC."

New deputy chairpersons sworn into office

Ms Agbenyo and Mr Asamoah were sworn into office by President Mahama on Monday.

They replace Dr Bossman Asare, who served as Deputy Chairperson in charge of Corporate Services and resigned effective July 31, 2026, to return to full-time academic work, and Samuel Tettey, the former Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, who retired upon attaining the compulsory retirement age of 65.

Their appointments have triggered public debate, particularly from the NPP, over whether the two officials can maintain the political neutrality expected of the Electoral Commission as it prepares to oversee the 2028 general elections.

Read full statement below:
APPOINTMENT OF EMELIA AGBENYO AS DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

The attention of the New Patriotic Party has been drawn to the appointment of Madam Emelia Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission by President John Dramani Mahama.

We wish to state clearly that the Party rejects this appointment. Madam Agbenyo served as the NDC's governance sector spokesperson during the preparation of the party's 2024 manifesto. She spoke for the NDC as it campaigned for power.

She is seen in videos on NDC campaign rally platforms campaigning with and for the NDC. She is seen in NDC campaign T-shirts openly advocating for the NDC. 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. We are also compelled to remind Ghanaians of President Mahama's own words. In March 2023, he criticised the appointment of persons he described as party activists to the Commission, allegations he could not even provide any evidence for and called for Article 43(2) to be amended so that Parliament would approve such appointments.

The President has now done exactly what he condemned. The consequences are serious. Public confidence in the Commission is the foundation on which every election result rests. Once that confidence is lost, every registration exercise, every boundary decision and every declaration of results become open to suspicion.

That is a danger to the peace and stability of our country, and it is avoidable. The New Patriotic Party therefore calls on President Mahama to withdraw the appointment. We also call on the Council of State to explain to Ghanaians the advice it gave in this matter.

Finally, we urge government to use the ongoing constitutional review process to reform the appointment of Electoral Commission members, in line with the very proposal the President made in 2023. The New Patriotic Party cannot trust that an active NDC operative, will demonstrate respect for the law; She's partisan and can't be neutral and We doubt she will be transparent at her office as deputy EC; Her accuracy, professionalism and competence would be clouded due to her strong affiliation with the NDC and obviously, she's designed not to serve the interests of the nation the NDC, her political party.

The Party also take serious note of the acceptance speech delivered by Mr. Asamoah. His remarks were deeply troubling, and, if left unchallenged, could undermine the peace and stability our nation currently enjoys. The statement bore the hallmarks of a partisan agenda, one that appears closely aligned with the interest of the NDC.

The Party will use every lawful means available to protect the integrity of our electoral system. We invite civil society organizations, religious bodies, the media and all well-meaning Ghanaians to add their voices to this call.

Dennis Miracles Aboagye
National Communications Director