Mahama Swears In Afi Agbenyo, Kwaku Asamoah as EC Deputy Commissioners, Stirs Massive Debate Online

According to a report by JoyNews on Monday, October 12, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in Emelia Afi Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC), and the appointments have sparked heated debate online.

The swearing-in took place at the Jubilee House. The two appointees fill vacancies left by Dr Bossman Eric Asare and Samuel Tettey. Dr Asare, who was in charge of Corporate Affairs, resigned effective July 31, 2026, to return to the University of Ghana. Mr Tettey, who oversaw Operations, left after reaching the mandatory retirement age.

At the ceremony, President Mahama urged the new deputies to act with fairness, restraint and respect for the law. He said the Commission must remain independent and impartial. He added that he did not expect it to give preferential treatment to him, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or his government. He said the same standards must apply to all political parties.

Dr Asamoah is a lawyer, chartered accountant and lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He has more than 17 years of experience in electoral administration, public service, legal practice and academia. He previously served the EC as Director of Finance, Director of the Training Centre and Head of Audit. He also took part in the administration of the 2012 and 2016 general elections.

Online reaction was swift. Some social media users claimed that Ms Agbenyo served as a Governance Sector Spokesperson for the NDC during its 2024 “Reset Manifesto” campaign. They asked why NDC-linked persons were being placed at the EC. Others accused the party of double standards. They said it criticised similar appointments under former President Nana Akufo-Addo. Some supporters welcomed the news, while others joked about it or predicted the NDC would still lose the 2028 election.

The claims about Ms Agbenyo’s party role come from social media comments and were not confirmed in the original report.

The new deputies are expected to help strengthen the Commission as it prepares for future elections.

If you liked this story, please follow or tip the author to help them write more!

ProNews feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com