Presidential spokesperson and Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has rebutted the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) opposition to the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday in a statement called on President John Dramani Mahama to withdraw the appointment of Ms. Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the EC.
The party argues that Ms. Agbenyo has been seen in videos on NDC campaign rally platforms campaigning with and for the NDC.
"She is seen in NDC campaign T-shirts openly advocating for the NDC. Less than two years on, the President has placed her among the top leadership of the institution that will conduct the 2028 general elections," the NPP stated.
But, rebutting the argument in a radio interview with Accra based Joy FM on Tuesday [Oct 13, 2026] monitored by CITEG TV.com, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said:
"There are people who may have legitimate concerns but those concerns in my view will be mitigated by the conduct of Madam Afi herself, in the role that she's been given."
"I have challenged the NPP, and indeed I will address the NPP because they are the ones who have started this narrative and creating the impression that they abhor the appointment of people with partisan affiliation to the EC when they packed the place [EC] with NPP people."
"The other issue is that, a reset could also mean balancing a lopsided state institution, why is it acceptable for us to have a situation that out of seven commissioners, who manage Ghana's election, almost four of them are NPP, why should we live with that, what is wrong with tilting the balance," Mr. Kwakye Ofosu questioned.
NPP's argument
In a statement dated October 13, 2026, signed and issued by the NPP National Director of Communications, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the party said it "find this unacceptable. We are also compelled to remind Ghanaians of President Mahama's own words.
In March 2023, he criticized the appointment of persons he described as party activists to the Commission, allegations he could not even provide any evidence for and called for Article 43(2) to be amended so that Parliament would approve such appointments."
According to the NPP, it "cannot trust that an active NDC operative, will demonstrate respect for the law; She’s partisan and can’t be neutral and We doubt she will be transparent at her office as deputy EC; Her accuracy, professionalism and competence would be clouded due to her strong affiliation with the NDC and obviously, she’s designed not to serve the interests of the nation the NDC, her political party."
The party said it also takes serious note of the acceptance speech delivered by Mr. Asamoah, the other newly appointed deputy chairperson, saying "his remarks were deeply troubling, and, if left unchallenged, could undermine the peace and stability our nation currently enjoys."
It said "the statement bore the hallmarks of a partisan agenda, one that appears closely aligned with the interest of the NDC."
Two new appointed deputy chairpersons of the Electoral Commission, Emelia Afi Agbenyo and Joseph Kwaku Asamoah were on Monday sworn into office by President John Dramani Mahama.
They replaced Dr Bossman Asare, a deputy chairperson in charge of Corporate Services who resigned effective July 31, 2026, to take up full assignment back in academia and Samuel Tettey, deputy chairperson who was in charge of operations and has retired on the attainment of the compulsory retirement age of 65.
It is following their appointment that public discussion especially spearheaded by the NPP has been on their neutrality.
