Accra:Emelia Afi Agbenyo, a seasoned development professional, has been appointed as the Deputy Chairperson of Ghana's Electoral Commission (EC). Her appointment was made by President John Dramani Mahama and she was sworn into office alongside Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah on October 12, 2026. This follows the recent departure of former Deputy Chairpersons Dr Eric Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey.
According to Ghana Web, Agbenyo's professional journey includes roles in public-sector management, technical education, and international development. Her career has involved significant contributions to development programmes, gender inclusion, skills training, and institutional management. Before joining the Electoral Commission, she served as Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations at the Ghana TVET Service.
Agbenyo's early life began in Ashaiman, Greater Accra Region, where she was born on October 7, 1983. She completed her secondary education at Chemu Secondary School in Tema and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Linguistics from the University of Ghana, Legon, in 2008. Agbenyo furthered her education with a Master of Arts in Education Management and Leadership in 2020 and is pursuing a master's degree in International Relations at GIMPA.
Her career in development administration started with the United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, where she worked from June 2008 to January 2011. She then joined the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) and later served as an Inclusive Education Consultant for the Korea International Cooperation Agency.
Throughout her career, Agbenyo has been involved in initiatives aimed at promoting women's participation in technical and vocational fields and has contributed to the development of Ghana’s disability- and gender-inclusive TVET manual. Her leadership roles have included overseeing operations at the Ghana TVET Service, where she coordinated technical and vocational education programmes across 261 institutions.
Agbenyo's new role at the Electoral Commission will involve significant responsibilities in organizing and supervising public elections in Ghana. Her diverse background in public administration and stakeholder engagement is expected to contribute to the Commission's mission in maintaining electoral integrity and public confidence.