'If you're not ready for 2028 elections, go and sit somewhere' - NDC's Japhet jabs NPP

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No, I reject the terms for becoming a GhanaWeb member.Yes, I accept the terms for becoming a GhanaWeb member. - By continuing, you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy Self Service Advert Sitemap Partners About Us Home - Politics Archived Political News Politicians Political parties Government Political Books General News Crime & Punishment Politics Regional Editorial Health Ghanaians Abroad Tabloid Africa News Religion You are here: Home → News → Politics → 2026 10 13 → Article 2056575 'If you're not ready for 2028 elections, go and sit somewhere' - NDC's Japhet jabs NPP Japhet Festus Gbede, an aspiring Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC Japhet Festus Gbede, an aspiring Deputy Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Akatsi South Constituency, has criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over its reaction to President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of two Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC), accusing the opposition party of double standards and selective outrage. In a Facebook post, the outspoken communicator of the NDC questioned the consistency of the NPP’s position on appointments to the Electoral Commission, arguing that the party appeared to be applying a different standard under the Mahama administration from the one it defended while in government under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. His comments follow President Mahama’s appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission on October 12, 2026. The appointments have sparked political debate, particularly over concerns raised by opposition figures regarding the perceived political affiliations of one of the appointees. In his commentary, Japhet referred to the controversy surrounding the appointments of Dr Peter Appiahene, Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani and Rev Akua Ofori-Boateng to the Electoral Commission in March 2023. At the time, the NDC raised concerns about the perceived partisan affiliations of two of the appointees, prompting a debate over the independence and neutrality of the Commission. The NPP, which was then in government, defended the appointments. Its former Deputy General Secretary, Nana Obiri Boahen, argued that political party membership alone did not automatically disqualify an individual from being appointed to the Electoral Commission. Drawing a comparison between the two situations, Japhet questioned why the NPP was now raising concerns about political neutrality following appointments made by President Mahama. He argued that "the party needed to explain the distinction between the principles it defended under the Akufo-Addo administration and the objections it was raising under the current government." Japhet described the opposition party's position as an example of political hypocrisy, opportunistic indignation and constitutional selectivity. According to him, political parties must demonstrate consistency in their interpretation of constitutional principles, regardless of whether they are in government or opposition. He maintained that if the NPP believed the latest appointments failed to satisfy constitutional requirements, it should present verifiable evidence and clearly explain the basis of its objections. The aspiring NDC Deputy Communications Officer further argued that the Electoral Commission was too important a democratic institution to become a casualty of partisan political disagreements. He stressed that the independence and credibility of the Commission should be protected through evidence-based arguments and consistent standards rather than political convenience. Japhet also questioned whether the NPP expected Ghanaians to disregard its previous arguments simply because the political circumstances had changed. Turning his attention to the 2028 general elections, Japhet challenged the NPP to reflect on its approach to opposition politics and demonstrate greater consistency in its public pronouncements. He suggested that the party should focus on presenting coherent arguments and holding the government accountable with evidence rather than engaging in what he characterised as selective criticism. "If the NPP is not adequately prepared for the 2028 elections, it is not too late to throw in the towel rather than subject Ghanaians to another cycle of political contradictions, selective outrage and unconvincing excuses. Ghana deserves an opposition that can scrutinise the government with facts, defend its arguments with evidence and apply the same principles regardless of who occupies the Jubilee House. " The NPP’s conduct in the ongoing debate over Electoral Commission appointments is a glaring exhibition of political hypocrisy, opportunistic indignation and constitutional selectivity. In March 2023, when President Akufo-Addo appointed Dr Peter Appiahene, Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani and Rev. Akua Ofori-Boateng to the Electoral Commission, the NDC raised concerns about the perceived partisan affiliations of two appointees, yet the NPP defended the ...appointments, arguing that political affiliation alone did not automatically disqualify anyone from public office. Fast forward to October 12, 2026, and following President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of Emelia Afifi Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah as Deputy Commissioners of the Electoral Commission, the NPP has renewed its concerns about political neutrality, with Dennis Miracles Aboagye criticising Agbenyo’s alleged partisan connections. What a spectacular display of selective outrage! If political affiliation alone was not sufficient grounds to reject appointments under the NPP, Ghanaians deserve a convincing explanation for the apparent change in its position today. The NPP must understand that the Ghanaian people cannot be expected to suffer from convenient political amnesia simply because the party finds itself in opposition. You cannot defend appointments when your government makes them, then suddenly present yourself as the uncompromising guardian of electoral neutrality when another administration makes similar appointments. If the party has credible evidence that the latest appointments violate constitutional requirements, it should present that evidence and make a coherent argument. But it cannot demand one standard for the NDC and another for itself. Constitutional principles are not political merchandise to be displayed when convenient and discarded when circumstances change. This controversy raises legitimate questions about consistency, credibility and whether the NPP's current position is grounded in a clear principle or merely in the frustrations of opposition politics. If this is the level of political consistency the NPP intends to carry into the 2028 general elections, then perhaps it is time for the party to undertake some serious introspection. If the NPP is not adequately prepared for the 2028 elections, it is not too late to throw in the towel rather than subject Ghanaians to another cycle of political contradictions, selective outrage and unconvincing excuses. Ghana deserves an opposition that can scrutinise the government with facts, defend its arguments with evidence and apply the same principles regardless of who occupies the Jubilee House. The NPP must decide whether it wants to be remembered as a credible opposition committed to consistent principles or as a party whose convictions appear to change whenever political power changes hands. | | | | | --- | --- | --- | | 19 | 1 | Share | Inside Ghana’s Abandoned Engineering Powerhouse: What Went Wrong? 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