The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rejected the appointment of Madam Emelia Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), citing concerns about her alleged political affiliations and the potential impact on public confidence in the electoral management body.
In a statement dated October 13, 2026, and signed by its National Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the party called on President John Dramani Mahama to withdraw the appointment.
The NPP alleged that Madam Agbenyo served as the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s governance sector spokesperson during the preparation of the party’s 2024 manifesto and actively campaigned for the NDC ahead of the 2024 general elections.
According to the party, videos showing her participation in NDC campaign rallies and her appearance in the party’s campaign T-shirts raise concerns about her ability to demonstrate impartiality in her new role.
The NPP argued that her appointment to the EC’s leadership, less than two years after the 2024 elections, was unacceptable and could undermine public confidence in the Commission ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The party also accused President Mahama of contradicting his previous position on the appointment of individuals with alleged political affiliations to the EC.
It recalled that in March 2023, Mr. Mahama criticised the appointment of persons he described as party activists to the Commission and called for Article 43(2) of the 1992 Constitution to be amended to require parliamentary approval for such appointments.
The NPP said the President’s latest decision contradicted that position.
It warned that public confidence in the EC was essential to the credibility of electoral processes, including voter registration, constituency boundary decisions and the declaration of election results.
The party maintained that any perception of political bias within the Commission could expose these processes to suspicion and threaten the country’s peace and stability.
The NPP further called on the Council of State to explain the advice it gave regarding the appointment.
It also urged the government to use the ongoing constitutional review process to reform the procedure for appointing EC members, in line with the proposal Mr. Mahama reportedly advanced in 2023.
The statement raised additional concerns about the impartiality, transparency and professionalism of the Commission’s leadership, arguing that strong political affiliations could affect public perceptions of its independence.
The party also expressed concern about remarks it attributed to a person identified as Mr. Asamoah in an acceptance speech, describing them as troubling and potentially harmful to national peace and stability. However, the statement did not provide further details about the remarks.
The NPP said it would use all lawful means available to protect the integrity of Ghana’s electoral system. It called on civil society organisations, religious bodies, the media and other citizens to support its demand.
The statement did not include a response from the Presidency, the Council of State or Madam Agbenyo to the concerns raised by the party.
Editorial note: Before publication, independently verify the appointment, Madam Agbenyo’s stated role in the NDC’s 2024 campaign, the President’s reported 2023 remarks, and the reference to Mr. Asamoah. The original statement does not clearly establish who Mr. Asamoah is or explain the context of his acceptance speech. A response from the Presidency and Madam Agbenyo should also be sought to ensure balanced reporting.
