Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has questioned the consistency of President John Dramani Mahama’s position on political appointments, arguing that the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo to the Electoral Commission (EC) threatens public confidence in the independence of the electoral management body.
Kpebu said the appointment risked undermining years of calls for an EC that operates independently of political interests, stressing that public trust in the commission depended on the neutrality and impartiality of its members.
Speaking on JoyNews, the lawyer argued that the decision could weaken the institution at a time when Ghanaians expected stronger safeguards against perceived political influence in electoral administration.
“What does this appointment do really to the Electoral Commission? It weakens the independence of the EC,” he said.
He acknowledged that the law might not explicitly prohibit an EC commissioner from having political affiliations but insisted that the standard expected of commissioners went beyond meeting the formal requirements for appointment.
“What is required is neutrality, impartiality in the discharge of the duty,” he added.
Kpebu raises questions about Mahama’s position
Kpebu also drew attention to Mahama’s previous criticisms of appointments he considered politically partisan while he was in opposition.
He argued that the latest appointment appeared inconsistent with those concerns, raising questions about whether the principles previously advocated by the President were being upheld in government.
According to the lawyer, the issue should not be dismissed as another disagreement between political parties because the credibility of the EC has far-reaching implications for Ghana’s democratic governance.
He maintained that electoral officials must be seen to act independently and fairly, regardless of their personal or political backgrounds.
Independence central to public confidence
Kpebu’s concerns centre on the need for the EC to maintain both actual independence and public confidence in its impartiality.
He said Ghanaians had increasingly demanded an electoral management body capable of conducting its responsibilities without the perception that its decisions were influenced by the interests of the governing party.
The appointment of Agbenyo has therefore renewed questions about the standards that should guide the selection of individuals to serve on the commission.
For Kpebu, protecting the EC’s independence requires more than compliance with the law; it also demands appointments that reinforce public confidence in the institution’s neutrality and credibility.
