Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has criticised President John Mahama over what he describes as double standards in the debate over Emelia Affi Agbenyo’s appointment.
Ablakwa insisted that concerns about political affiliations in appointments to the Electoral Commission must be applied consistently.
According to Ablakwa, although President Mahama did not act unconstitutionally in making the appointment, the opinion of political bias remained a concern that should not be dismissed.
He argued that the Electoral Commission should be composed of neutral and independent individuals to maintain public confidence.
Speaking on JOYNEWS, Ablakwa stated, “Those double standards are not helpful in our public discourse. I would have wished for an entirely different situation. Yes, constitutionally, the President has not acted unconstitutionally, but the optics don’t look good. And those who are criticising have the right, because we criticised when we were in opposition, and we believed that we were on the right footing”.
“She is a woman of impeccable integrity. But the optics don’t look good, and I have always maintained that. Let’s have very neutral, independent arbiters appointed to the Electoral Commission. If it was wrong yesterday, it was not the best yesterday. It cannot be excellent today.”
Ablakwa nevertheless defended Ms Agbenyo’s suitability for the role, describing her as a competent woman of impeccable integrity.
He stated, “I have to emphasise that I have known Madam Affi Agbenyo since my student activism days; many student leaders know her. She is very independent, fearless, and when she makes up her mind, you cannot… She was SRC Secretary.
In terms of her competence, in terms of love for country and the fact that she will not engage in blatant bias, it breaks my heart that she is put in this storm. I am not taking anything away from her competence, and the fact that she can do the job and she is a woman of integrity”.
Meanwhile, Professor Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, a governance analyst, has slammed the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, over his comments claiming the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) was intended to balance political representation.
Prof Agyemang-Duah argued that Felix Kwakye Ofosu’s comments could undermine the independence of the Electoral Commission.
According to Prof Agyemang-Duah, mistakes made by previous administrations should not be repeated.
Speaking on TV3 KeyPoint, Prof Agyemang-Duah stated, “I think my earlier comments referred to that kind of argument. The fact is, the EC is an independent body. The Constitution does not require that we balance membership on a political party basis. No, it’s independent. That’s why I referred earlier, if you recall, to those who are arguing that there are many NPP sympathisers.
“They mentioned names, but there’s no need to mention them here. And therefore, this one appointment is simply seeking to balance the scales in terms of membership of those who are so-called politically exposed. No, that’s why I’m saying we shouldn’t go through this circular argument of ‘You did it, I’m doing it. You did it, I’m balancing it with this.’ Look, we don’t commit two mistakes to ensure that one right is done. No, if the first one was a mistake, we should simply not repeat it. So I do not buy that argument that this is a balancing act,” he said.
He further added, “Not at all. So that’s a defeatist kind of argument. It’s not proper, and I appeal to those who are making that kind of statement, especially from higher levels, because that kind of argument is dangerous for us. If the foot soldiers are making those kinds of arguments, I won’t quibble so much because we know how they talk”.
His comment comes on the heels of Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu saying 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).
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