Politics of 2026-10-16
CODEO calls for resignation of Deputy EC Chair over alleged NDC ties
The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has called for the resignation of newly appointed Deputy Electoral Commissioner Emelia Affi Agbenyo.
This follows public concerns over her alleged membership of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
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In a statement released on October 15, 2026, CODEO explained that Agbenyo’s resignation would help restore public confidence in the Electoral Commission (EC) and strengthen trust in its impartiality and credibility.
“Calls on Ms. Emelia Affi Agbenyo to honourably resign as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission in the interest of protecting public confidence in the Commission's impartiality and institutional credibility,” portions of the statement read.
The civil society group acknowledged that President John Dramani Mahama has the authority to appoint persons to the position.
However, it said publicly available evidence suggests that Agbenyo was politically active with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2024 elections.
CODEO argued that her reported political activities during the election campaign could undermine public confidence in the Electoral Commission and raise questions about its impartiality.
“While CODEO recognizes the President's constitutional authority over appointments, public evidence of Ms. Agbenyo's active political engagement with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2024 general election campaign directly compromises the public perception of the independence, impartiality, and institutional credibility of the Electoral Commission.
“As a primary stakeholder in Ghana's democratic process, CODEO asserts that the integrity of the Electoral Commission depends not only on the actual neutrality of its commissioners, but on the public's absolute confidence in that neutrality,” the statement continued.
CODEO reiterated its longstanding position that the process for appointing Electoral Commission officials should go beyond the provisions of Article 70(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
CODEO recalled that it had made similar calls during the appointments of Charlotte Osei, Jean Mensa, Dr Bossman Asare and Samuel Tetteh, but its concerns were not heeded.
The group also cited its previous call for the resignation of Dr Peter Appiahene over concerns about his alleged partisan affiliation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“The appointment of Dr Peter Appiahene rightly generated condemnation from many groups, including the National Democratic Congress, prompting its then Presidential Aspirant, now President John Mahama, to call for urgent reforms,” the statement stated.
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CODEO also urged President John Dramani Mahama to ask Agbenyo to resign, stressing that the move would demonstrate consistency with his criticism of the previous government’s appointments of politically affiliated persons to the Electoral Commission.
“Calls on President John Dramani Mahama to demonstrate consistency with his previously stated position by urging Ms. Agbenyo to resign. The President must demonstrate that the principles he advocated in opposition remain applicable under his own administration,” it added.
Read the full statement below:
MAG/VPO
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