The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD‑Ghana) has formally asked Electoral Commission (EC) Deputy Chairperson Emelia Afi Agbenyo to resign, urging President John Dramani Mahama to intervene amid concerns that her alleged affiliation with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) threatens the commission’s impartiality.
Programmes Manager Paul Aborampah Mensah made the appeal on Friday, October 16, during a segment on Eyewitness News. He said the president should recognise the impact of the appointment and either advise the deputy chair to step down or allow her to resign on moral grounds.
Mensah warned that allowing political affiliations to persist could undermine confidence in Ghana’s electoral management system and that the independence of state institutions must be protected. He cautioned that repeated changes in government should not routinely affect the leadership of key national bodies.
The call follows Mrs Agbenyo’s swearing‑in as deputy chair on October 12, alongside Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah. Critics have questioned her alleged NDC ties, arguing that such links contravene the constitutional requirement for the commission to operate impartially.
At the ceremony, President Mahama urged the new deputy chairs to uphold impartiality and safeguard Ghanaians’ right to freely choose their leaders.
Mensah added that continued politicisation of electoral management could have serious consequences for Ghana’s democratic processes, warning that the country might regret the people managing its elections if the trend persists.
