Vitus Azeem, an Anti-corruption campaigner, has slammed President John Dramani Mahama over the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).
The Anti-corruption campaigner warned against appointing individuals with political affiliations to positions in independent state institutions.
According to Vitus Azeem, Ghana is 70 years after independence, and should not be doing the very things that it did yesterday.
He cautioned that Emelia Afi Agbenyo, as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), risks continuing a cycle of partisan appointments whenever power changes hands.
Speaking to Citi News, Vitus Azeem stated, “We are progressing 70 years after independence, and we should not be doing the very things that we did yesterday. We should be developing a democracy, and so if you have some party affiliation, whether you have ever held a position in the party as executive or not, if you are known to have party affiliation and appeared on a party platform to campaign, then definitely your independence can be compromised.
“Sometimes, you have to take some decisions and even though you take that decision honestly without being influenced by your party affiliation, it can be perceived as having been influenced by your party, and so we need people whose actions will not be blamed on any party’s affiliations.”
He further rejected arguments that appointing Emelia Afi Agbenyo was to help balance the composition of the Electoral Commission
His comment comes on the heels of Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu who admitted that the government wanted an NDC member on the Electoral Commission to “tilt the balance” of its composition.
According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have orchestrated an agenda against the appointment of Emelia Afi Agenyo.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu argued that he is willing to challenge members of the NPP, highlighting that the party, while in office, appointed individuals affiliated with the party to positions at the Electoral Commission.
The Government Communications Minister also disclosed that the appointment of Emelia Afi Agenyo is also part of President Mahama’s reset agenda, arguing that her appointment was intended to balance what he described as NPP appointments at the Electoral Commission.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu admitted that “tilting the balance” meant appointing a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking on JoyFM, Felix Kwakye Ofosu stated, “I have challenged the NPP, and indeed, I will address the NPP because they are the ones who have started this narrative and are creating the impression that they have bought the appointment of people with personal affiliation to the EC,” he said.
“The other issue is that, you see, a reset could also mean balancing a lopsided state institution.
“Why is it acceptable for us to have a situation where, out of seven commissioners who manage Ghana’s elections, almost four of them are NPP? What is wrong with tilting the balance?” he added.
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