Why Was It Wrong Then, But Acceptable Now? — Krobea Asante Questions Mahama Over EC Appointment

Krobea Kwabena Asante, a former presidential staffer under ex-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has questioned President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of Emelia Affi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC). He accused Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of applying inconsistent standards to political appointments at the Commission.

In a post shared on his official Facebook page on October 12, 2026, Asante revisited the controversy surrounding Dr. Peter Appiahene’s appointment as an ordinary EC Commissioner and shared a video of Mahama criticising the appointment during the 2024 election campaign. He questioned why political affiliation was treated as a major governance concern at the time but appeared less significant following Agbenyo’s appointment.

Asante argued that Mahama and the NDC had previously raised concerns about Appiahene’s alleged links to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), particularly his reported association with the party’s Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON). He contrasted that controversy with Agbenyo’s appointment, describing her as an NDC manifesto spokesperson who had represented the party on political programmes.

The former presidential staffer maintained that Agbenyo’s alleged political background deserved the same scrutiny that was applied to Appiahene’s appointment. He questioned what had changed between the two appointments and challenged what he considered a difference in the standards applied by the President and his party.

Asante also explained the distinction between an ordinary EC Commissioner and a Deputy Chairperson of the Commission. He noted that although both positions involve membership of the Commission, a Deputy Chairperson occupies a senior leadership position and has responsibilities beyond those automatically associated with being an ordinary Commissioner.

He further sought to correct what he described as an inaccurate account of Dr. Bossman Asare’s university political background. Asante insisted that Bossman Asare was never a TESCON patron at the University of Ghana, citing his years of involvement with the university’s TESCON and his experience as a polling station executive in the Legon Electoral Area.

To support his argument, Asante referred to appointments made under previous administrations, claiming that the political backgrounds of some appointees had not generated similar levels of controversy. He cited David Kanga, whom he described as a known Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) cadre who served as Deputy Electoral Commissioner under former President Jerry John Rawlings, as well as a commissioner he identified as Hajia, whom he said had strong family connections to the NDC and served under former President John Evans Atta Mills.

Despite his criticism, Asante clarified that he had nothing against Agbenyo personally and wished her well in her new role. He stressed that his main concern was whether political leaders were applying consistent standards when assessing the suitability of individuals appointed to the Electoral Commission.

He concluded that Ghanaians deserved consistency from their political leaders, arguing that a principle should not be condemned when an opposing party is in power and accepted when one’s own party assumes office. He warned that such perceived inconsistencies could undermine public trust in politicians and raise questions about their commitment to good governance.

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