Affi Agbenyo should not be at the EC given her past record – Brako-Powers

Lawyer and public affairs commentator Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers has questioned the suitability of Affi Agbenyo for appointment as a Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission (EC), citing her past political conduct.

He argued that individuals whose conduct demonstrates political allegiance to a particular party should not be appointed to independent constitutional bodies tasked with safeguarding Ghana’s democracy.

Speaking on TV3’s Big Issues on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Mr Brako-Powers said his concerns about Ms Agbenyo’s appointment were based on what he described as her previous public expressions against the then governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“I have seen some of her previous posts against the then New Patriotic Party, and I am convinced she should be nowhere near the EC,” he said.

He stressed that the issue was not whether a person held political opinions or supported a particular political party, but whether the individual had taken affirmative steps to advance the interests of a political organisation.

According to him, such a distinction was important when assessing the suitability of individuals for positions in independent constitutional institutions, where public confidence in impartiality is critical.

Mr Brako-Powers also criticised President John Dramani Mahama over the appointment, describing him as a “walking contradiction” in view of what he said were the President’s previous criticisms of appointments to the Electoral Commission and his current decision.

He argued that the controversy should not be resolved simply by establishing whether Ms Agbenyo was formally a member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“Now the NDC says she’s not a member, but that should not be the consideration,” he said, adding that the central question should be whether her past conduct raises legitimate concerns about her presence on the Commission.

Mr Brako-Powers maintained that the conduct of prospective appointees should be scrutinised to determine whether their previous political activities could undermine confidence in their ability to serve impartially. He said the Electoral Commission’s credibility depended not only on the legality of appointments but also on public perception of its independence.

He reiterated that the EC must be seen to operate independently of the political interests of the party in power, stressing that appointments to the Commission should inspire confidence across the political divide. He argued that protecting the institution’s neutrality was essential to ensuring credible elections and sustaining public trust in Ghana’s democratic process.