On Monday, October 12, President John Dramani Mahama addressed the newly sworn‑in Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC) during their inauguration ceremony. He urged the appointees to uphold impartiality and ensure the Commission treats all political parties and candidates equally, insisting that neither he nor his government should receive preferential treatment.
Emelia Afi Agbenyo, formerly Deputy Director for Operations at the Ghana TVET Service, and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah, a former Director of Finance at the EC, were the two new deputies. Mahama highlighted their backgrounds, noting that Asamoah’s experience in law, accounting, economics and electoral administration would strengthen the EC’s internal systems, while Agbenyo’s public administration and stakeholder engagement skills would help make electoral participation accessible to all voters, including those with physical, social or communication barriers.
During the ceremony, the President said, “As President, I expect no preferential treatment from the Electoral Commission for myself, my party or my government. You must have the courage to uphold what is right even when it is inconvenient for those in power.” He warned the new officials against allowing political interests to influence their decisions and stressed that the Commission’s credibility depends on applying the same standards to all political actors.
Mahama also urged the deputies to strengthen public confidence through transparency, accountability and constructive engagement with stakeholders. He called on them to listen to political parties, civil society organisations, the media and citizens, and to address legitimate concerns promptly. He further advised them to provide accurate information when misinformation arises and to acknowledge and correct mistakes whenever they occur.
The appointments come after changes in the EC’s senior leadership, including the resignation of Dr Bossman Asare, who handled Corporate Affairs, and the retirement of former Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.
Observers will watch how the new deputies implement Mahama’s call for impartiality and whether their efforts will restore confidence in the EC’s neutrality ahead of upcoming elections.
