Accra:A governance analyst, Professor Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, has criticized Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, for his comments regarding the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC). Kwakye Ofosu suggested the appointment was intended to balance political representation.
According to Ghana Web, Agbenyo's past affiliation with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), particularly her role in the party's manifesto committee for the 2024 general elections, has sparked concerns about the Electoral Commission's political neutrality.
The appointment has drawn criticism, with Kwakye Ofosu defending it by pointing out that the previous administration also appointed individuals associated with its political party to the EC and other public institutions. He argued that addressing perceived imbalances in state institutions, including election management bodies, should be part of resetting the country.
However, Prof Agyemang-Duah argued that such remarks could undermine the EC's independence and insisted that past mistakes by previous administrations should not be repeated. He emphasized that the EC is an independent body and the Constitution does not require balancing its membership on a political party basis. He criticized the notion of balancing appointments as a circular argument and a mistake that should not be repeated.
The former Board Chairman of the Ghana Audit Service also took issue with Kwakye Ofosu's comments, stating that such arguments should not come from high-ranking officials, as they could be dangerous for the country's political discourse.