Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister, has weigh in on the controversy over President John Mahama appointment of Emelia Affi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Ablakwa addimtted that the appointment of Emelia Affi Agbenyo raises concerns over his political neutrality due to her affiliation with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to Ablakwa, Emelia Affi Agbenyo is a woman of integrity, but the optics don’t look good.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on October 17, 2026, Ablakwa stated, “
“She [Affi Agbenyo] is a woman of integrity, but the optics don’t look good. I have always maintained that let us have very neutral, independent architects appointed to the EC,” he said.
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”.
In related news, Martin Kpebu, a Private legal practitioner, has slammed President John Dramani Mahama over his decision to appoint and swear in Emelia Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).
According to Lawyer Kpebu, President Mahama’s decision to appoint Emelia Afi Agbenyo, a previous associate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is a reset in reverse.
He argued that he was shocked when he learned of the President’s decision, adding that it contradicts the reset agenda Mahama promised Ghanaians.
Speaking on TV3 Key Points, aired on TV3 on October 17, 2026, Martin Kpebu stated, “This one is a reset in reverse; that is not the legacy. It was like a fairy tale in the negative sense. I couldn’t believe my ears; I was like, ‘What is this?’”
Lawyer Kpebu further disclosed that he might reconsider his support for President Mahama if future appointments continue in that manner.
He stressed that such an appointment undermines the integrity of the Electoral Commission.
“We made all the noise against Akufo-Addo’s appointment. In 2024, the NDC raised issues against the Director of the EC; we were here making all the noise. This is a strong race to the bottom. I am not sure that after a year I will continue to support JM. This appointment doesn’t look like him, the reset he promised,” he said.
Also, 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.
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