Presidential staffer Beatrice Annan has rejected claims that newly appointed Electoral Commission (EC) Deputy Chairperson Emelia Afi Agbenyo is a card-bearing member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ms Annan said Agbenyo’s participation in the party’s campaign activities during the 2020 and 2024 general elections was linked to her advocacy for women’s representation in leadership and not formal membership of the party.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, October 12, she insisted that Agbenyo had never been a card-bearing member of the NDC.
The defence follows objections from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which has questioned Agbenyo’s suitability for the electoral management role because of her involvement in the NDC’s campaign activities and her work as a spokesperson for the party’s manifesto committee on governance.
Agbenyo was recently sworn in alongside Joseph Kwaku Asamoah as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
Ms Annan argued that Agbenyo’s professional experience and record of gender advocacy should be considered in assessing her suitability for the position.
She cited Agbenyo’s work as a technical adviser and gender analyst with GIZ Ghana, saying her advocacy for women’s inclusion in leadership predated the NDC’s return to power in 2024.
According to Ms Annan, the NDC opened its campaign platforms to professionals who were not necessarily party members to contribute to policy development during the 2020 and 2024 elections.
She also said Agbenyo’s support for the party’s female running mate ahead of the 2024 elections was consistent with her advocacy for women’s representation.
Ms Annan further recalled that Agbenyo had criticised the NDC in 2016 over what she considered poor governance, arguing that her public statements demonstrated her willingness to express independent views.
“She has not done anything to demonstrate any potential bias or imminent bias,” she said.
On concerns about the appointment process, Ms Annan maintained that the presidency had complied with the constitutional procedure, stating that the nominees were submitted to the Council of State more than a month before their swearing-in.
She said the Council of State had undertaken consultations with relevant stakeholders before the appointments were finalised.
However, she acknowledged that greater public participation could improve the process in future.
“Feedback noted. Maybe in the future, the public should be more involved in the processes,” she said.
The controversy has renewed attention on the political neutrality expected of officials serving on the Electoral Commission, which is responsible for managing elections in Ghana.
