Mahama Has Repeated Akufo-Addo’s Mistakes, But Worse — Atik Mohammed Slams Agbenyo’s Appointment

Former People’s National Convention (PNC) secretary Atik Mohammed has criticised President John Dramani Mahama over the appointment of Emelia Affi Agbenyo to a commission, raising concerns about political partisanship and the institution’s ability to maintain neutrality and impartiality.

Mohammed expressed his concerns in a post shared on his official Facebook page on October 12, 2026, arguing that Agbenyo’s alleged political affiliation raises questions about the appropriateness of her appointment. He warned that appointing individuals perceived as active party loyalists to institutions expected to operate independently could undermine public confidence in their work.

The former PNC secretary maintained that neutrality and impartiality were essential to the credibility of the commission, arguing that political considerations should not influence appointments to institutions entrusted with important public responsibilities.

Mohammed also compared Mahama’s decision with appointments made under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, claiming that the current administration was repeating what he considered mistakes made by its predecessor.

He recalled the controversy surrounding Akufo-Addo’s appointments to the commission, arguing that members and spokespersons of the former administration had defended decisions that critics considered politically motivated rather than adequately addressing the concerns raised.

According to Mohammed, the controversy demonstrates the importance of political consistency, particularly when parties move between government and opposition. He argued that political leaders should apply the same standards to appointments regardless of which party benefits from them.

He stressed that decisions made while in government could eventually affect a party when it loses power and returns to the opposition. For this reason, he maintained that laws and institutional arrangements should be designed with the possibility of future changes in government in mind.

Mohammed was particularly critical of Mahama’s decision, arguing that it raised questions about the President’s commitment to establishing a lasting legacy through his appointments and governance decisions.

“Having said that, President Mahama has demonstrated by this appointment that he has no desire to leave a useful legacy. He repeats in a much worse fashion, the terrible actions of Akuffo Addo. This appointment is one of those unfortunate decisions,” Mohammed wrote.

His remarks reflect his view that the appointment represents a continuation of political practices he believes could weaken the independence of public institutions. He argued that appointments should be guided by standards that protect institutional credibility rather than party interests.

The controversy has also drawn attention to the broader question of how political affiliations should be considered when appointing individuals to commissions expected to perform their duties impartially.

While political appointments are a common feature of government, concerns can arise when appointees are perceived to have strong ties to a governing party or its political activities. Such concerns often lead to calls for transparent appointment procedures, clear eligibility requirements and safeguards against undue political influence.

However, Mohammed’s allegations about Agbenyo’s partisanship and his assessment of Mahama’s motives remain his personal criticisms. Establishing whether the appointment compromises the commission’s independence would require examining the applicable legal requirements, the appointee’s role and the safeguards governing the institution.

The debate highlights the importance of consistency, accountability and public confidence in appointments to institutions expected to serve the broader national interest.

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