Politics of 2026-10-15
From Rawlings to Mahama: Full list of Electoral Commission appointments under the Fourth Republic
The history of appointments to Ghana's Electoral Commission (EC) under the Fourth Republic has come under renewed public scrutiny following President John Dramani Mahama's recent appointment of two Deputy Chairpersons to the electoral management body.
The appointments of Dr. Joseph Kwaku Asamoah and Emelia Afi Agbenyo have sparked discussions about the Commission's composition, the constitutional requirements governing appointments, and the need to safeguard the institution's independence.
According to a detailed account shared by Legal scholar Professor Kwaku Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar, Article 43 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution establishes the Electoral Commission as a seven-member body comprising a Chairperson, two Deputy Chairpersons and four other commissioners.
Article 70(2) further provides that all seven members are appointed by the President, acting on the advice of the Council of State.
He maintained that the advice of the Council of State is binding on the President, although it acknowledged that the Supreme Court has not definitively settled the question regarding appointments to the Electoral Commission.
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He referenced the 2016 case involving the Ghana Bar Association and the Attorney-General, including consolidated actions brought by Richard Dela Sky and Kwasi Danso-Acheampong.
Additionally, Article 44 requires individuals appointed to the Commission to possess the qualifications necessary to be elected as Members of Parliament.
The Constitution also provides that the EC Chairperson enjoys the same terms and conditions of service as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, while the two Deputy Chairpersons enjoy those applicable to High Court Justices.
Providing a historical breakdown, he indicated that former President Jerry John Rawlings constituted the Electoral Commission at the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1993.
His appointments included Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan as Chairperson, David Kangah and Kwadwo Sarfo-Kantanka as Deputy Chairpersons and Professor Ernest Dumor, Dr. M. T. K. Puni, Elizabeth Solomon and Theresa Cole as commissioners.
Justice Kwame Afreh was also among the early Deputy Commissioners but left the institution in 1994 following his appointment to the Court of Appeal.
Under former President John Agyekum Kufuor, four ordinary commissioners were appointed between 2001 and 2009.
They included Paulina Adobea Dadzawa, Nana Amba Eyiiba I, Eunice Akweley Roberts and Ebenezer Aggrey-Fynn.
However, President Kufuor did not appoint a new Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson, as the leadership inherited from the previous administration remained in office.
Former President John Evans Atta Mills subsequently appointed Sa-Adatu Maida and Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo as commissioners in 2010, while Amadu Sulley was appointed Deputy Chairperson in 2012.
During President Mahama's first administration, Georgina Opoku Amankwaa was appointed Deputy Chairperson in 2013, followed by Charlotte Osei, who became EC Chairperson in 2015 after the retirement of Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.
The account further revealed that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed seven members of the Electoral Commission during his administration between 2017 and 2025.
In 2018, he appointed Jean Adukwei Mensa as Chairperson, with Samuel Tettey and Dr. Eric Bossman Asare serving as Deputy Chairpersons.
Adwoa Asuama Abrefa was also appointed.
These appointments followed the removal of former EC Chairperson Charlotte Osei and her deputies, Amadu Sulley and Georgina Opoku Amankwaa.
In 2023, Akufo-Addo appointed three additional commissioners, Salima Ahmed Tijani, Dr. Peter Appiahene and Rev Akua Ofori Boateng.
This brought the total number of his appointments to seven, comprising one Chairperson, two Deputy Chairpersons and four ordinary commissioners.
Following his return to office in January 2025, President Mahama has appointed two Deputy Chairpersons to the Electoral Commission.
Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah and Emelia Afi Agbenyo were sworn into office on Monday, October 12, 2026, replacing Samuel Tettey, who retired and Dr Eric Bossman Asare, who resigned.
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