Mahama Appoints New Electoral Commission Deputy Chairpersons

President John Dramani Mahama swore in Emelia Afi Agbenyo and Dr. Joseph Kwaku Asamoah as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission on October 12, 2026, at the Jubilee House. The appointments fill vacancies created by the retirement of Samuel Tettey and the resignation of Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, who returned to academia.

Dr. Asamoah, a law lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and former EC Director of Finance, has not faced partisan scrutiny. However, the appointment of Ms. Agbenyo, formerly a Deputy Director for Operations at the Ghana TVET Service, drew immediate criticism from the New Patriotic Party. Opponents allege she served as a Governance Sector Spokesperson for the National Democratic Congress during its 2024 campaign.

President Mahama urged the new officials to work independently, stating that neither he nor any political party should receive preferential treatment. In response to the controversy, presidential staffer Beatrice Annan defended Ms. Agbenyo, asserting she is not a card-bearing member of the NDC and that her previous political work focused on professional policy development and gender inclusion.