The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has called for the resignation of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), warning that concerns about her past political activities could undermine public confidence in the institution ahead of the 2028 general elections.
In a statement dated Thursday, October 15, 2026, the coalition cited Madam Agbenyo’s reported involvement in the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s 2024 election campaign, arguing that the leadership of the electoral management body must be perceived as politically impartial.
CODEO said the credibility of the EC depended not only on the neutrality of its commissioners but also on the public’s confidence in their ability to perform their duties without political influence.
“As a primary stakeholder in Ghana’s democratic process, CODEO asserts that the integrity of the Electoral Commission depends not only on the actual neutrality of its commissioners, but on the public’s absolute confidence in that neutrality,” the statement said.
Madam Agbenyo was sworn into office by President John Dramani Mahama on October 12, alongside Dr. Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, following their appointment to fill vacancies in the Commission’s deputy leadership.
The coalition pointed to Madam Agbenyo’s reported role as the NDC’s governance sector spokesperson during the preparation of the party’s 2024 manifesto.
It also referenced her social media activities during the election campaign, including posts expressing support for the party and its then presidential candidate, Mahama.
According to CODEO, such activities raise concerns about how the Commission’s independence may be perceived by the electorate.
“The independence and credibility of the Electoral Commission must be protected, and its leadership must inspire public confidence in its impartiality, regardless of which political party is in government,” the coalition stated.
CODEO stressed that its concerns were not about Madam Agbenyo’s professional qualifications or technical competence but about the need to safeguard the EC’s institutional credibility.
It argued that public confidence in electoral institutions was particularly important as Ghana prepares for the 2028 general elections.
Beyond calling for Madam Agbenyo’s resignation, the coalition has urged the government to reform the process for appointing members of the Electoral Commission to make it more transparent, competitive and merit-based.
CODEO said appointments to the Commission should be subjected to independent scrutiny and meaningful parliamentary oversight to minimise concerns about political influence.
The coalition also called on the Council of State to establish transparent procedures that would allow citizens to assess how it performs its constitutional responsibility of advising the President on appointments.
It noted that the Constitutional Review Committee had recommended an open, competitive, and merit-based selection process involving a reformed Council of State, the Public Services Commission, and prior parliamentary approval.
However, CODEO said the government’s position paper rejected the proposed changes to the existing appointment arrangement while indicating that the President could adopt transparent, merit-based procedures.
The coalition believes that addressing concerns about the appointment process before appointments are made would help prevent controversies and strengthen confidence in the electoral management system.
It maintained that protecting the EC’s independence requires both constitutional safeguards and a commitment to impartiality in the selection of its leadership.
