On Tuesday, October 13, David Asante Boateng, head of the Let My Vote Count Alliance and former Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, posted on Facebook that the appointment of Emelia Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) threatens the body’s neutrality and could compromise public confidence in upcoming elections.
In his post, Mr. Asante Boateng wrote, "When you compromise the neutrality of the Electoral Commission through appointment of a pure politically exposed person to the high office, you shred the integrity of the office and attack the credibility of the process leading to future elections." He added that the decision was not made in good faith.
Agbenyo’s appointment, made alongside Dr. Joseph Kweku Asamoah as another Deputy Chairperson, has drawn criticism from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). The party cited her past involvement in National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign activities and her role as a spokesperson for the party’s manifesto committee on governance, questioning whether such political engagements are compatible with the impartiality required of an EC officer.
Supporters of Ms. Agbenyo counter that her background in gender advocacy and policy development – including work as a technical adviser and gender analyst with GIZ Ghana – demonstrates her professional credentials. They argue that her participation in the NDC’s 2020 and 2024 election campaigns was aimed at promoting women’s representation rather than indicating formal party membership.
The debate underscores the sensitivity of EC appointments and the importance of maintaining the commission’s perceived neutrality as Ghana prepares for future electoral processes.
