Profile of Emelia Affi Agbenyo a newly appointed Deputy EC Chairperson

President John Mahama has appointed Madam Emelia Affi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

She is one of two appointees who would replace Dr Eric Bossman Asare and Mr Samuel Tettey.

The second person appointed with Madam Agbenyo is Mr Joseph Asamoah.

Here is the profile of Madam Emelia Agbenyo:

Date of Birth: October 7, 1983

Place of Birth: Ashaiman, Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Nationality: Ghanaian

Languages Spoken: English, Ewe, Twi

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Emelia Affi Agbenyo is a development professional with a distinguished track record in strategic leadership, corporate governance, public sector management, and international development administration. As Deputy Director General for Operations at the Ghana TVET Service, she provides executive oversight of the nationwide operations of 261 TVET institutions with a workforce of approximately 11,000 employees, driving organizational performance, institutional transformation, operational excellence, and strategic policy implementation. Through her leadership, the Service contributes significantly to skills development for over 70,000 young people in the formal sector and many more in the informal economy.

Her leadership experience spans policy design, organizational development, resource mobilization, and the management of complex multi-stakeholder partnerships. She has successfully led large-scale national and donor-funded programmes in inclusive policy implementation, skills and enterprise development, and gender transformation, while strengthening institutional systems, accountability frameworks, and service delivery outcomes. She has managed strategic partnerships and resources with organizations including UNDP, USAID, KOICA, GIZ Ghana, and the former Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

Beyond her executive role, she serves in key governance positions as a Commissioner of the National Development Planning Commission of Ghana, a Board Member of the African Trade Chamber and Education and Aspirations.

A strong communicator and transformational leader, she is recognized for building effective corporate governance systems, fostering a high-performance and values-driven organizational culture, and leading change across complex institutions.

CORE COMPETENCIES

1.  Institutional Systems Building and Strategic Leadership            • Building, leading, and developing high-performing teams across complex institutional settings.

2. Large-scale Programme Design, Execution, and Evaluation            • National-level policy formulation and implementation; policy design and technical writing (manuals,   frameworks, national guidelines); international development cooperation frameworks and compliance.

3. Stakeholder Engagement, and Partnerships Building            • Cross-cultural negotiation and diplomatic engagement; high-level stakeholder relationship management      (government, development partners, civil society).

4. Advocacy and Inclusion            • Gender-transformative programme design and implementation; diversity-driven institutional culture                   building;

5. Public Representation and Advocacy

• public advocacy, stakeholder communications, and representation at national governance and policy dialogues.

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RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Deputy Director General, Ghana TVET Service                                  February 2025 - Present

●      Support the Director General to provide strategic leadership for the Service

●      Provides leadership for the implementation of national TVET and skills development policies and program

●      Coordinates partnerships and resource mobilisation activities for quality TVET delivery

●      Oversee monitoring and evaluation of activities of the service across the country

●      Supported a nationwide gender analysis with a focus on integrating gender transformation strategies in project implementations.

●      Guided project coordinators in adapting Germany’s Feminist Foreign Policy to the Ghanaian context for inclusive project implementation.

·       Conducted programme evaluation and assessing their impact on skills development for vulnerable groups.

·       Audited the gender competence and compliance of staff and systems within the programme.

·       Implemented findings from gender analyses, driving inclusive practices across operations.  

·       Led the organization of first PR Legends Nights as a platform for learning and networking among Public Relations practitioners

·       Increased membership subscription and exceeded revenue target for the institute

·       Provided leadership for the implementation of institute’s strategic objectives

·       Co-authored a manual on disability and gender inclusion in technical and vocational education for Ghana’s COTVET.

·       Developed and executed a stakeholder engagement strategy.

·       Trained 100+ policymakers, TVET managers, and instructors on inclusive TVET practices.

·       Designed and led the implementation of female focus skills development projects, creating job opportunities for young women in the electronics, solar and motorcycle value chain.

Designed initiatives like Women in Box Farming and Youth in Organic Horticulture Production (YouHoP).

·       Managed cross-functional teams of 8+ members across multiple projects, monitoring operational and financial progress.

·       Managed partner collaboration with leading organisations, including Samsung, KOICA, and Japan Motors.

·       Prepared terms of reference for curriculum development, training tools, procurement, and consultant hiring.

National Gender Focal Person                                                             Oct 2015 – Dec 2018

GIZ Ghana

·       Established gender targets and compliance frameworks across national programmes.

·       Designed and facilitated onboarding training on gender and inclusion policies for staff

Inclusive Education Consultant                                                                                      Feb 2015

Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)                                                                                                                     

·       Contributed to the development of the Better Life for Girls programme for UNICEF, Ghana.

·       Produced a policy brief analysing government policies on girl-child education.

·       Edited project documents to incorporate specific local content aligned with regional educational needs.

Technical Assistant                                                                                       Feb 2011 – Feb 2015

Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET)                                                                                                                         

·       Facilitated the COTVET-GIZ/GSDI partnership, ensuring effective communication and robust collaboration.

·       Managed informal sector TVET providers, tasks included developing database and capacity building

·       Supported the roll-out of Competence-Based Training (CBT) for informal training sectors through the GSDI project

·       Designed PR activities, including developing multimedia stories of women in TVET

Programme Assistant                                                                                                          June 2008 – Jan 2011

UNDP/GEF Small Grant Programme                                                                                                                            

·       Supported community engagement strategies and gender mainstreaming in projects.

·       Conducted field monitoring and evaluation, preparing comprehensive project reports.

·       Facilitated workshops on sustainable environmental practices and alternative livelihoods.

EDUCATION &  PROFESSIONAL TRAINING and AFFILIATION

Master, International Relations — GIMPA (August 2026 – In Progress)

Master of Arts (Hons), Education Management & Leadership — University of Ghana, Legon (September 2019 – August 2020)

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Linguistics — University of Ghana, Legon (September 2004 – August 2008)

West African Certificate Examination (WACE) — Chemu Secondary School, Tema (September 1999 – June 2002)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Policy Training — GIZ Ghana (2016)

Member, Institute for Public Relations, Ghana (2022 – Present)

BOARDS AND COMMISSION

Commissioner, National Development Planning Commission      May, 2025

Board Member, NaSIA,                                                             Aug 2025

Board Member, Africa Trade Chamber                                       October 2023 – till date

Board Member, Education and Aspiration                                    November 2021 – till date