The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has demanded the withdrawal of Emelia Agbenyo’s appointment as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), warning that the decision could undermine public confidence in Ghana’s electoral system.
The party, in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, rejected President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to appoint Madam Agbenyo, citing her previous association with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
President Mahama appointed Madam Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah as Deputy Chairpersons of the EC on October 12, 2026, and swore them into office the same day.
Their appointments filled vacancies created by the resignation of Dr Bossman Eric Asare, who left the Commission on July 31, 2026, to return to academia, and the retirement of Samuel Tettey after reaching the mandatory retirement age.
The NPP said Madam Agbenyo served as the NDC’s governance sector spokesperson during the preparation of the party’s 2024 manifesto and appeared at campaign rallies advocating for the party.
It argued that her appointment to the leadership of the institution responsible for conducting the 2028 general elections could raise questions about its perceived neutrality.
“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 party said it could not accept the appointment and called on the President to reverse the decision.
“The New Patriotic Party therefore calls on President Mahama to withdraw the appointment.”
It also asked the Council of State to explain the advice it gave on the matter and urged the government to use the ongoing constitutional review process to reform the appointment of Electoral Commission members.
The statement was signed by Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the party’s National Communications Director.
