NPP DEMANDS REMOVAL OF EC DEPUTY CHAIR EMELIA AGBENYO

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has demanded the removal of newly sworn-in Electoral Commission (EC) Deputy Chairperson Emelia Affi Agbenyo, citing concerns about her alleged political affiliation and its implications for the independence of the election management body. The party’s National Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, argued that the EC must remain independent and questioned whether Affi Agbenyo could meet that requirement given her alleged association with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, October 14, Miracles insisted that Ms Agbenyo should be removed, stressing that independence was a fundamental requirement for the position. “You must be independent. Is she independent? No. They must remove her, and we are demanding that,” he said. He also questioned the role of the Council of State in the appointment process, arguing that it should have identified and addressed concerns about Affi Agbenyo’s alleged political affiliation before advising the President. “The Council of State ought to have known this woman’s colour, which is blatant. There is nothing secret about it, and they should have advised the President,” Miracles said. He further demanded that the Council of State make its advice to the President public, alleging that the appointment process had been shrouded in secrecy. He also indicated that the NPP could pursue legal action over the appointment, arguing that the Supreme Court should determine whether a politically affiliated person could serve as chairperson of the Electoral Commission. President John Dramani Mahama sworn in Emelia Affi Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission. At the swearing-in ceremony, the President urged them to uphold impartiality and safeguard the right of Ghanaians to freely choose their leaders.