Martin Kpebu, a Private legal practitioner, has quizzed President John Dramani Mahama’s approach to governance, arguing that his appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo to the Electoral Commission (EC) appears inconsistent with his promise of a Reset agenda.
Layer Kpebu reminded President Mahama that he secured a victory of about 1.7 million votes in the last election, saying the mandate should be used to deliver the changes Ghanaians expected.
He expressed concern that Emelia Afi Agbenyo’s appointment appeared to contradict John Mahama’s previous criticisms of perceived partisanship in appointments to the Electoral Commission.
According to Martin Kpebu, the decision raises questions about Mahama’s commitment to changing the governance practices he had criticised while in opposition.
Speaking on JoyNews, Mr Kpebu directly challenged the President over the decision.
“You won the last election by about 1.7 million votes. So why are you getting it wrong?” he asked.
He further described the appointment as a reversal of the President’s Reset agenda, saying, “This one is the Reset in reverse.”
“This is running the country in reverse,” he added, warning that the approach was “not sustainable”.
Martin Kpebu urged President Mahama to reconsider his position, stressing that voters expected his administration to move away from practices he had previously criticised and deliver meaningful governance reforms.
He maintained that the President’s electoral mandate presented an opportunity to implement the changes promised to the public.
Also, 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”.
@ghnow_ A woman who was robbed of her phone at Shatta Fest yesterday recounts her ordeal. Meanwhile, another lady was reportedly stripped half-naked by armed robbers during the incident. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Arrival of Gisela and Ama Burland at the seats of strength happening at the ESP Hotel in Labone #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – officialpm.gh
