New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator Dennis Miracles Aboagye has launched a fresh criticism of President John Dramani Mahama over the reported appointment of Emelia Affi Agbenyo, a former spokesperson for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2024 election campaign, as Deputy Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC).
In a Facebook post, Aboagye questioned why the governing NDC could not identify other qualified individuals for the position without a visible political campaign background.
He expressed concern about the implications of appointing someone he described as an active NDC campaign team member and political operative to a senior position within an institution responsible for overseeing the country's elections.
“Is it that the NDC do not have other subtle members or people who are capable of being EC or they are just bent on blatantly destroying this beautiful democracy for us before they exit in 2028,” he wrote.
Aboagye described the development as embarrassing and warned that it could establish a troubling precedent for Ghana's democratic governance.
“Becos this is becoming embarrassing … What a bad precedent… a full blown open NDC campaign team member and political operative as EC dep. Chair?? You have no shame??” he added.
Concerns Over Electoral Commission's Independence
Aboagye's comments reflect concerns about the relationship between political affiliations and appointments to the Electoral Commission, an institution constitutionally mandated to operate independently.
His central argument is that appointing a person with a recent and visible political campaign role to a senior EC position could raise questions about the institution's perceived impartiality and public credibility.
The appointment has consequently brought renewed attention to the expectations of neutrality surrounding the leadership of Ghana's electoral management body.
However, Aboagye's assertion that the appointment threatens Ghana's democracy represents his political position. Whether the appointment satisfies all applicable legal and constitutional requirements must be assessed independently of the political debate.
What the Constitution Says
Article 43 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution establishes the composition of the Electoral Commission, including a Chairperson and two Deputy Chairpersons.
Under Article 70(2), the President appoints the Chairperson, Deputy Chairpersons and other members of the Commission acting on the advice of the Council of State.
Article 46 provides that the Electoral Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority in the performance of its functions, subject to the Constitution and applicable law.
These provisions establish the constitutional framework for appointments and the Commission's independence. The cited provisions do not expressly state that previous participation in a political campaign automatically disqualifies a person from appointment.
Nevertheless, questions about political affiliations, impartiality and public confidence remain significant in discussions surrounding appointments to electoral institutions.
Aboagye's latest reaction adds to the political debate over Emelia Affi Agbenyo's reported appointment, with the controversy focusing on whether the decision could affect public confidence in the Electoral Commission ahead of the 2028 general elections.
