Council of State failed Mahama over Emelia Agbenyo’s EC appointment – Prof. Asante Otchere

Political Analyst Professor Jonathan Asante Otchere has criticised the Council of State over its role in the appointment of Emelia Affi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), arguing that it should have alerted President John Dramani Mahama to concerns about her political affiliation.

He said the appointment had subjected the President and his government to avoidable public scrutiny, despite the availability of other individuals who could have been considered for the position without raising similar concerns about political neutrality.

Speaking on Channel One TV's The Big Issue on Saturday, October 17, Prof. Asante Otchere said the Council of State should have provided the President with relevant information during the appointment process to help prevent the controversy.

“The Council of State has disappointed the President. You see, sometimes it is not always the case that, of course, in this particular appointment, they have disappointed him because they should probably have informed him of the person’s background,” he said.

His comments come amid concerns raised by critics over Mrs Agbenyo's alleged affiliation with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), following her swearing-in alongside Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah as a Deputy Chairperson of the EC on October 12.

Prof. Asante Otchere argued that the President could have considered other individuals sympathetic to the NDC but without publicly known political affiliations that could trigger questions about their impartiality.

He described the controversy as unnecessary pressure on the President, noting that the appointment had generated a backlash that could have been avoided through a more careful selection process.

“I have said that this is a needless pressure that the President has brought onto himself,” he said.

The political analyst also questioned the public justification that the appointment was intended to balance political interests, suggesting that such considerations should not have been openly emphasised.

He further called for a review of the process for appointing officials to the Electoral Commission, proposing that Ghana consider alternative mechanisms to strengthen confidence in the independence of the electoral management body.

Prof. Asante Otchere maintained that the selection of EC officials should prioritise public confidence in the Commission's neutrality to prevent political controversy from overshadowing its constitutional responsibilities.

-citinewsroom