President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in Emelia Afi Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC), urging them to uphold impartiality and safeguard Ghanaians’ right to freely elect their leaders.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, October 12, 2026, President Mahama charged the two officials to discharge their duties without favouring any political party, candidate or government.
“So let me state clearly. Your duty is to the Republic of Ghana and its people. You must discharge your responsibilities without favour towards any political party, any candidate or government,” he said.
“The authority that accompanies your office must always be exercised with fairness, restraint and fidelity to the law.”
The President emphasised that the EC must apply the same standards to all political actors, including his own government and party.
“As President, I expect no preferential treatment from the Electoral Commission for myself, my party, or my government. I expect an institution that applies the same standards to everyone and protects Ghanaians’ right to choose their leaders freely,” he said.
He further urged the newly appointed deputy chairpersons to demonstrate the courage to uphold the law, even when their decisions might be inconvenient for those in power.
“You must have the courage to uphold what is right even when it is inconvenient for those in power,” he added.
Madam Agbenyo serves as Deputy Director for Operations at the Ghana TVET Service, while Dr Asamoah is a law lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Dr Asamoah previously held several senior positions at the Electoral Commission, including Director of Finance, Director of the Training Centre and Head of Audit.
Their appointments follow the resignation of Dr Bossman Asare, who was responsible for Corporate Affairs, effective July 31, 2026, and the retirement of Samuel Tettey, the former Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.
The appointments fill vacancies in the commission’s senior leadership at a time when the EC continues to oversee elections and safeguard Ghana’s electoral process.
