President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in a law lecturer, Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, and a public policy and development expert, Emilia Affi Agbenyo, as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC), charging them to uphold the highest standards of integrity and impartiality in the management of the country’s electoral process.
Dr Asamoah, the EC’s former Director of Finance, former Director of the Training Centre and former Head of Audit, brings considerable institutional experience to the role, having played an active role in the 2012 and 2016 general elections, the 2010 and 2015 district-level elections and the 2019 referendum on the creation of six new regions, among many other electoral management exercises in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa.,
Affi Agbenyo was the Deputy Director-General, Operations at the Ghana TVET Service and Commissioner of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).
She is a development professional with extensive experience in inclusive TVET, skills and enterprise development, international development cooperation and gender transformation.
The swearing-in of the two deputy chairpersons is expected to bolster the leadership of the EC as the nation prepares for future electoral cycles.
Swearing-in ceremony
At a brief swearing-in ceremony at the Jubilee House yesterday, the President reminded the new appointees, whose names had not come up until the ceremony, that their work would touch the very foundation of Ghana’s democracy, stating that the confidence of citizens in the electoral process depended on the fairness and competence of the commission.
Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa; the Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs, Dr Valerie Sawyerr; the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, and the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, were among officials present at the ceremony.
The two deputies bring a wealth of experience to the commission, with Dr Asamoah bringing a combination of legal, financial and electoral expertise to the office.
A lawyer, chartered accountant and chartered economist, his service within the EC, including in audit, finance and training, offers a practical foundation for his new role.
President Mahama expressed confidence that Dr Asamoah’s background would strengthen institutional systems, improve the preparation of electoral personnel and promote sound stewardship of public resources.
Ms Agbenyo, on the other hand, brings extensive experience in public administration, institutional leadership and stakeholder engagement.
Her leadership at the Ghana TVET Service involved coordinating nationwide operations and supporting policy implementation.
The President said her work on gender inclusion, disability inclusion and opportunities for vulnerable groups was particularly relevant to the EC's mandate of ensuring accessibility for all eligible citizens.
"No preferential treatment"
In a strong reaffirmation of the EC's independence, President Mahama stated clearly that the authority of the office must be exercised with fairness and fidelity to the law, warning them against favouritism.
"As President, I expect no preferential treatment from the Electoral Commission for myself, my party or my government. I expect an institution that applies the same standards to everyone and protects Ghanaians' right to choose their leaders freely," he said.
President Mahama emphasised that public trust in the electoral body must be earned through consistent conduct, transparency and constructive engagement with political parties, civil society and the media.
The President urged the new deputies to have the courage to uphold what was right even when it was inconvenient, and to acknowledge and correct mistakes promptly.
Highlighting the critical nature of their roles, President Mahama stated that credible elections required sustained preparation, accurate record-keeping and reliable logistics long before polling day.
He, therefore, charged the new deputy chairpersons to work closely with their colleagues and other members of staff to promote a culture of professionalism, and to ensure that technology was used to improve the reliability and accessibility of the electoral process.
"Persons with disabilities, older citizens, women, young people and eligible voters in remote communities should be able to participate in our electoral process with dignity and confidence," the President added.
President Mahama also called for a shared national responsibility in protecting the integrity of elections, urging political parties, citizens, the media and security services to play their respective roles responsibly.
He assured the EC of the government's support in carrying out its mandate while respecting its independence.
Call to action
Speaking on behalf of the two new Article 71 appointees, Dr Asamoah described his appointment as a return home, having served the EC as Director of Finance, Election Administrator, Director of the Training Centre in Kumasi, Head of Audit and Election Trainer.
“I know the strength of this commission. I know the challenges it has. And above all, I know the level of dedication of the commission’s staff,” he said.
Pledging their commitment, Dr Asamoah said they were not coming in for personal gain, but to give back to the country, adding that “real service requires sincerity and integrity that cannot be bought.”
The EC Deputy Chairperson said their foremost loyalty was to the people of Ghana under Article 1 of the 1992 Constitution, stressing that every vote must count, and that the commission’s power would never be used to suppress the people or its staff.
Their work, Dr Asamoah pledged, would rest on “zero tolerance of partisan political interest and 100 per cent tolerance for the national interest.”
He, however, conceded that they were assuming office at a time of low public confidence in the EC, citing the Afrobarometer report that only 33 per cent of Ghanaians trusted the EC “somewhat or a lot,” down from 75 per cent in 2005 and 63 per cent in 1999.
Describing the figures as “a verdict and a call to action,” he said restoring trust was not an option but an obligation by which the new leadership must be judged.
Dr Asamoah identified misinformation, disinformation and fake news as major threats to electoral credibility, but stressed that credible elections were a national duty involving political parties, Parliament, the security services, civil society, the judiciary, the media and citizens.
The two deputy chairpersons are coming in at a time the country is preparing to hold district assemblies elections and a referendum as part of the Constitution review process.
The two will be filling huge vacuums created due to the retirement of Samuel Tettey, former Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Operations, and Dr Bossman Eric Asare, who was in charge of Corporate Affairs, but resigned effective July 31, 2026, to return to the academic field at the University of Ghana.
Read also: 2 new deputy chairpersons of Electoral Commission sworn into office [VIDEO]
