The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called for the resignation of Electoral Commission (EC) Deputy Chairperson Emelia Afi Agbenyo over concerns about her alleged affiliation with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The centre has urged President John Dramani Mahama to advise Mrs Agbenyo to step down, arguing that the concerns surrounding her appointment could undermine public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the Electoral Commission.
CDD-Ghana’s Programmes Manager, Paul Aborampah Mensah, made the call during an interview on Friday, October 16.
Mr Mensah said the President could advise Mrs Agbenyo to resign if he had not fully considered the implications of the appointment, adding that she could also step down on moral grounds.
“What we are demanding now is that perhaps the President did not recognise the impact of the appointment he was making. Now that it has been realised publicly, he can advise the lady to resign, or the lady, on moral grounds, can herself resign,” he said on Citi FM.
He stressed the need to protect the independence of state institutions, warning against a situation in which changes in government routinely affect the leadership and operations of key national institutions.
“We don’t want a situation where after every change of government our institutions are affected. That’s what we need to avoid as a country,” he said.
Mr Mensah further cautioned that the continued politicisation of electoral management could have serious consequences for Ghana’s democratic processes.
“If we are not careful and continue that way, it will get to a point that we’ll be sorry for the kind of people who have been managing our elections,” he added.
The call follows the swearing-in of Mrs Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission by President Mahama on October 12.
The appointments have generated debate over Mrs Agbenyo’s alleged affiliation with the NDC, with critics raising concerns about whether such associations could affect public confidence in the Commission’s ability to carry out its mandate impartially.
At the swearing-in ceremony, President Mahama urged the newly appointed deputy chairpersons to uphold impartiality and safeguard the right of Ghanaians to freely choose their leaders.