CODEO Calls for Resignation of EC Deputy Chair Emelia Affi Agbenyo Over NDC Campaign Links

In a statement issued following her appointment and swearing-in on October 12, 2026, CODEO said publicly documented evidence of Agbenyo’s involvement in the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s 2024 election campaign raised questions about the perceived neutrality of the electoral management body.

The coalition, which comprises more than 41 member organisations, acknowledged the President’s constitutional authority to make appointments but maintained that the credibility of the Electoral Commission depends not only on the actual neutrality of its leadership but also on the public’s confidence in that neutrality.

CODEO Cites Agbenyo’s 2024 Campaign Activities

According to CODEO, Agbenyo was announced by the NDC in August 2024 as one of the party’s sectoral spokespersons for its election manifesto, serving under the governance portfolio.

The coalition also cited information on her LinkedIn profile, where she reportedly listed her role as a spokesperson for the governance sector during the NDC campaign.

CODEO further referenced social media posts attributed to Agbenyo during the 2024 election campaign. These included a September 20, 2024, Facebook post featuring then NDC presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama, accompanied by the party’s campaign song and hashtags associated with the campaign.

Another post, dated October 31, 2024, featured Mahama with a caption advocating the restoration of good governance and democracy. CODEO also cited a December 2, 2024, post on her X account expressing opposition to the then governing administration and including hashtags supporting Mahama’s presidential bid.

The coalition said these activities raised concerns about the perception of political neutrality expected of a senior official of the Electoral Commission.

CODEO Reiterates Calls for Electoral Commission Reforms

CODEO said its concerns were consistent with its longstanding position that appointments to the Electoral Commission should involve broader consultation and transparent procedures beyond the existing constitutional framework.

The coalition recalled raising similar concerns during the appointments of Charlotte Osei in 2014 and Jean Mensa, Dr. Bossman Asare and Samuel Tetteh in 2018.

It also referred to its 2023 call, alongside STAR-Ghana Foundation and the Civic Forum Initiative, for the resignation of Dr. Peter Appiahene over concerns about his alleged partisan affiliation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

CODEO argued that the appointment of individuals with publicly known partisan associations continued to raise questions about the safeguards protecting the independence of the Commission.

It also questioned the role of the Council of State in the appointment process, calling for greater transparency in how the advisory body discharges its constitutional responsibilities.

The coalition stressed that its concerns about Agbenyo’s appointment were not about her professional qualifications or technical competence, but about the potential impact of perceived political affiliations on public trust.

It cited Afrobarometer findings indicating that public trust in the Electoral Commission reached a low point in 2024.

CODEO Challenges Mahama to Uphold Previous Position

The coalition also referenced comments made by President John Dramani Mahama in March 2023, when he was in opposition and criticised the appointment of individuals he described as known party activists to the Electoral Commission.

According to CODEO, Mahama had called for an amendment to Article 43(2) of the 1992 Constitution to require parliamentary approval for the appointment of new commissioners.

CODEO said the concerns raised by the President while in opposition were relevant to the current situation and urged him to apply the same principles under his administration.

“The credibility of electoral institutions demands that the same standards be upheld regardless of which political party holds power,” the coalition maintained.

Four Key Demands

In response to the appointment, CODEO outlined four demands:

1. Agbenyo’s resignation: The coalition called on the Deputy EC Chairperson to resign in the interest of protecting public confidence in the Commission’s impartiality and institutional credibility.
2. Presidential intervention: It urged President Mahama to demonstrate consistency with his previously stated position by asking Agbenyo to step down.
3. Electoral reforms: CODEO called on the government to introduce reforms that would make future appointments to the Commission more transparent, merit-based and acceptable across the political divide.
4. Council of State accountability: It urged the Council of State to establish transparent processes that would enable citizens to assess how it carries out its constitutional responsibilities.

CODEO Urges Government to Reconsider Position on Reforms

Concluding its statement, CODEO renewed its call for changes to the process of appointing the leadership of the Electoral Commission.

The coalition noted that the Constitutional Review Committee had recommended an open, competitive and merit-based appointment process involving a reformed Council of State, the Public Services Commission and prior parliamentary approval.

However, it said the government’s position paper rejected the proposed changes to the existing appointment arrangements, although it indicated that the President could adopt transparent and merit-based procedures.

CODEO urged the government to reconsider its position and pursue reforms that introduce independent scrutiny, clear selection criteria and meaningful parliamentary oversight.

It argued that such measures would help address concerns about actual or perceived partisan influence before appointments are made, rather than after controversies emerge.

The coalition maintained that the independence of the Electoral Commission must be protected not only through constitutional provisions but also through a demonstrated commitment by political leaders to safeguarding public confidence in the country’s electoral institutions.