“People will raise issues even with Jesus Christ as EC Chair” – Mahdi Jibril

Mahdi Jibril, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Director of Elections, stated that even if Jesus Christ were appointed as the Electoral Commissioner, Ghanaians would still raise concerns. This observation was made on Adom FM’s Burning Issues while discussing the inauguration of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

Jibril emphasized that political disagreements and public distrust of electoral officials have become an inherent part of Ghana's political landscape, rendering it challenging for any appointee to avoid criticism. He noted, "Go and bring Jesus Christ, and Ghanaians will still have issues. Even if you bring Jesus Christ or Mohammed as Electoral Commissioner, people will still have concerns in our political dispensation."

Furthermore, Jibril accused critics of hypocrisy, stating that the controversy surrounding Agbenyo's appointment signified a broader pattern of political behavior. He suggested, "Sometimes, it is hypocrisy that makes us behave this way. We have come to live with this." Jibril also questioned the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) criticism of Agbenyo's appointment, pointing out that the NPP had previously elected a vice-chairman they believed would safeguard their ballot box.

He queried, "The NPP has made us aware that they have elected a vice-chairman who will protect their ballot box. So why are they running away and making noise?" These remarks were made in light of the controversy surrounding Agbenyo's appointment, with critics raising concerns over her prior involvement in NDC political campaigning and its potential impact on the Electoral Commission's perceived neutrality.