NDC sought to ‘tilt the balance’ with Emilia Agbenyo’s EC appointment – Kwakye Ofosu

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu admitted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) aimed to "tilt the balance" in the composition of the Electoral Commission (EC) with the appointment of Emilia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson. This statement came during an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story. According to Ofosu, the intention behind the appointment was to address what he described as an imbalance in the political make-up of the Commission.

The controversy surrounding Ms Agbenyo's appointment stems from her political affiliations and activities, which have raised questions about her neutrality. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed concerns about her suitability for the position, citing her involvement in the NDC's campaign activities and her role as a spokesperson for the party's manifesto committee on governance. In response to the NPP's criticism, Ofosu argued that her behavior and performance in her role would help alleviate these concerns.

Ofosu admitted that some legitimate concerns existed regarding her appointment but maintained that they would be mitigated by Agbenyo's conduct in her new role. He also accused the NPP of applying double standards, noting that the party had previously appointed individuals affiliated with it to state institutions. Ofosu questioned why the political composition of the EC could remain unchanged when several of its commissioners were associated with the NPP.

He argued that balancing the lopsided state institutions was necessary and questioned why it was acceptable for there to be almost four NPP commissioners out of seven managing Ghana's elections.

When asked directly whether tilting the balance meant appointing an NDC member to the Commission, Ofosu confirmed that it did. This admission adds to the ongoing debate over the political neutrality and independence of the EC, particularly following the swearing-in of the two deputy chairpersons. President John Dramani Mahama had charged the new appointees to discharge their duties independently and impartially, emphasizing that no political party or candidate should receive preferential treatment.

The government has maintained that concerns about Agbenyo's neutrality should be assessed based on her conduct in office.