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President John Dramani Mahama has urged the newly sworn-in Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC) to uphold impartiality, apply the law fairly and ensure equal treatment of all political parties and candidates.
He stressed that neither he, his party nor his government should receive preferential treatment from the Commission, emphasising that its credibility depends on its ability to operate independently of political interests.
Speaking at their swearing-in ceremony on Monday, October 12, 2026, President Mahama charged Emelia Afi Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah to protect the right of Ghanaians to freely elect 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,” .
Pres. Mahama
The President underscored the importance of transparency, accountability and constructive engagement in building public confidence in the Commission.
He urged the new officials to maintain open communication with political parties, civil society organisations, the media and the general public, while ensuring that legitimate concerns are addressed promptly.
He also advised them to provide accurate information to counter misinformation and to acknowledge and correct errors whenever they occur.
President Mahama highlighted Dr Asamoah’s professional background in law, accounting, economics and electoral administration, describing his experience as valuable to strengthening the Commission’s internal operations.
Dr Asamoah, who lectures in law at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), previously served the EC as Director of Finance, Director of the Training Centre and Head of Audit.
The President expressed confidence that his experience would contribute to improving the training of electoral officers, strengthening internal systems and ensuring the effective management of public resources.
For Ms Agbenyo, Mr Mahama pointed to her experience in public administration, institutional leadership and stakeholder engagement, particularly her role in coordinating operations and implementing policies at the Ghana TVET Service, where she served as Deputy Director for Operations before her appointment.
He also highlighted her work in promoting gender and disability inclusion, urging her to help ensure that electoral participation is accessible to all eligible voters, including persons who face physical, social or communication barriers.
The appointments come amid changes in the EC’s senior leadership following the resignation of Dr Bossman Asare, whose responsibilities included Corporate Affairs, effective July 31, 2026, and the retirement of Samuel Tettey, the former Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.
The two appointments are expected to fill vacancies in the Commission’s leadership as it continues its mandate of overseeing elections and safeguarding Ghana’s electoral process.
