David Asante Boateng, leader of the Let My Vote Count Alliance and former Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, has criticised the appointment of Emelia Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), warning that it could undermine public confidence in the electoral management body.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, October 13, Mr Asante Boateng questioned the suitability of appointing someone he considers politically exposed to a sensitive position responsible for overseeing elections.
He argued that the appointment could raise concerns about the commission’s perceived neutrality and compromise confidence in the electoral process ahead of future elections.
“When you compromise the neutrality of the Electoral Commission through appointment of a pure politically exposed person to the high office, you shred the integrity of the office and attack the credibility of the process leading to future elections,” he wrote.
Mr Asante Boateng also questioned the rationale behind the appointment, insisting that it was not made in good faith.
Ms Agbenyo’s appointment, alongside that of Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah as another Deputy Chairperson of the EC, has drawn criticism from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The party has raised concerns about Ms Agbenyo’s reported involvement in the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s campaign activities and her role as a spokesperson for the party’s manifesto committee on governance.
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The NPP has questioned whether such political engagements are compatible with the responsibilities of a senior position at the Electoral Commission, which is expected to operate impartially.
However, supporters of Ms Agbenyo have defended her professional background, citing her experience in gender advocacy and policy development, including her work as a technical adviser and gender analyst with GIZ Ghana.
They have also argued that her participation in the NDC’s 2020 and 2024 election campaigns was intended to promote women’s representation in leadership rather than demonstrate formal membership of the governing party.
The debate over the appointments centres on concerns about political affiliations, the perceived neutrality of the Electoral Commission and the need to maintain public confidence in the institution’s management of elections.
