President John Dramani Mahama has charged the newly sworn-in Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC) 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.
The two new Deputy Chairpersons are Emelia Afi Agbenyo, who until her appointment was the Deputy Director for Operations at the Ghana TVET Service, and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah, a former Director of Finance at the EC.
Speaking at their swearing-in ceremony on Monday, October 12, President Mahama urged the appointees to exercise their authority fairly and in accordance with the law to protect the right of Ghanaians to freely choose their leaders.
“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 said.
He stressed that the Commission’s credibility depends on its ability to apply the same standards to all political actors, warning the new officials against allowing political interests to influence their decisions.
President Mahama also urged the appointees to strengthen public confidence in the EC 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 address legitimate concerns promptly.
He further advised them to provide accurate information when concerns arise from misinformation and to acknowledge and correct mistakes whenever they occur.
According to the President, Dr Asamoah’s background in law, accounting, economics and electoral administration would be valuable in strengthening the Commission’s internal systems, improving the training of electoral officers and ensuring the effective management of public resources.
Dr Asamoah, who lectures in law at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), previously served the Commission as Director of Finance, Director of the Training Centre and Head of Audit.
For Ms Agbenyo, the President highlighted her experience in public administration, institutional leadership and stakeholder engagement, particularly her work coordinating operations and implementing policies at the Ghana TVET Service.
He also pointed to her experience in promoting gender and disability inclusion, urging her to help make electoral participation accessible to all eligible voters, including persons facing physical, social or communication barriers.
Their appointments follow changes in the EC’s senior leadership, including the resignation of Dr Bossman Asare, whose responsibilities included Corporate Affairs, effective July 31, 2026, and the retirement of former Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.
