Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has admitted that the political background of newly appointed Electoral Commission Deputy Chairperson Emelia Affi Agbenyo has created an unfavourable public perception, although he maintains that she is qualified and independent enough for the role.
Speaking on the issue, Mr Ablakwa said he would have preferred a situation in which appointments to the Electoral Commission (EC) attracted no questions about political neutrality.
“The optics don't look good; I would have wished for a different situation. I have always maintained that let us have very neutral, independent architects appointed to the EC,” he said.
However, he defended Ms Agbenyo’s character and ability to serve independently, describing her as a woman of impeccable integrity.
“She's fiercely independent, and those who know her know that she's a woman of impeccable integrity,” he added.
Ms Agbenyo’s appointment has drawn criticism from the Minority and sections of the public because of her past association with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
She served as an NDC spokesperson on governance during the party’s 2024 election campaign.
Following her appointment, some of her past social media posts expressing political views in support of the NDC resurfaced online.
A video of her speaking on a media platform as a representative of the party has also circulated widely.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for her appointment to be withdrawn, arguing that her political history raises concerns about the Electoral Commission’s neutrality.
The controversy has also reignited debate over political appointments to the electoral management body, with critics questioning whether the governing party is applying the same standards it demanded of the previous NPP administration over appointments to the Commission.
