TEMA, Ghana, 17th October; The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has defended President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of two Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC), insisting that the appointments do not threaten Ghana’s democracy.
According to him, the country’s democratic institutions remain functional, and there is nothing inherently wrong with the President’s decision to appoint the two officials in accordance with the constitutional provisions governing appointments to the Electoral Commission.
His comments follow the rejection of the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the EC by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which has questioned her ability to remain politically neutral in the discharge of her duties.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and signed by its National Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the NPP raised concerns about Madam Agbenyo’s alleged close association with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The party claimed that she served as the NDC’s governance sector spokesperson during the preparation of its 2024 manifesto and participated in campaign activities ahead of the 2024 general elections, including attending rallies and wearing campaign-branded T-shirts.
However, speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, October 17, Mr Koomson argued that the Constitution does not automatically disqualify a person from appointment to the Electoral Commission on the basis of political affiliation.
He maintained that the constitutional requirements for appointment should guide the selection of officials rather than allegations of political association.
Mr Koomson also criticised the NPP over what he described as inconsistencies in the EC’s handling of election figures during the tenure of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He argued that the concerns surrounding the 2020 general elections should be considered when assessing the opposition party’s current criticism of the appointments.
According to him, the performance of the EC under Chairperson Jean Mensa attracted controversy over the presentation of election figures, yet she remains in office.
He suggested that the appointment of the two Deputy Chairpersons could help strengthen the Commission’s work, particularly in ensuring greater accuracy in the handling and presentation of election results.
Mr Koomson further questioned the lingering controversies surrounding the declaration of the 2020 presidential election results, arguing that the NPP should not portray the latest appointments as an attack on democracy.
He consequently rejected the party’s assertion that Ghana’s democracy was under threat following President Mahama’s decision.
Mr Koomson insisted that the appointment of the two Deputy Chairpersons, in itself, does not constitute an assault on the country’s democratic system, maintaining that Ghana’s democratic institutions continue to function.
He urged the debate surrounding the appointments to be assessed within the framework of the Constitution and the responsibilities of the Electoral Commission rather than being characterised as a threat to democracy.
