Was Asamoah Gyan an NPP Member? — Rashid Tanko Reaction to NPP Over Affi Abgenyo’s Appointment

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has fired back at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over its allegations that Ms. Emilia Affi Abgenyo is a member of the NDC, following her appointment as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).

Rashid Tanko, the NDC’s Deputy National Director of Elections and IT, questioned the basis of the NPP’s claims, arguing that if the party is so concerned about the political affiliations of appointees, it should also explain whether former Ghanaian footballer Asamoah Gyan was an NPP member when he served on the party’s manifesto committee on sports ahead of the 2024 general elections.

According to Tanko, the NPP’s fixation on Ms. Abgenyo’s political background is misplaced and smacks of hypocrisy, especially given the party’s own history of engaging individuals whose partisan affiliations were not clearly defined. He noted that the former Black Stars captain, widely regarded as a national figure, was brought on board by the NPP without any demands for proof of party membership.

Tanko further argued that Ms. Abgenyo is a competent woman who has been appointed to perform her duties at the Electoral Commission and should be allowed to do her job without unnecessary political interference. He emphasized that competence, not partisan labelling, should be the focus of discussions around her appointment.

The appointment of deputy chairpersons to the Electoral Commission has generated significant political debate in Ghana, with both major parties trading accusations over the neutrality and credibility of the commission ahead of future elections. The NPP has yet to officially respond to Tanko’s counter-accusations.

As the controversy continues, the focus will remain on whether the appointment process can rise above partisan politics—or whether the EC will once again find itself at the centre of a political storm.