By Ewoenam Kpodo
Ho, Oct 24, GNA- The Anlo Youth Council (AYC) has congratulated Ms Emelia Afi Agbenyo on her appointment as Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana Deputy Chairperson, urging her to uphold independence and neutrality.
In a statement, the Council described Ms Agbenyo as a distinguished daughter of Anlo whose years of public service reflected a commitment to institutional development, effective administration and inclusive governance.
“The Anlo Youth Council proudly congratulates Hon Emelia Afi Agbenyo. We affirm our confidence in her experience, professional competence and capacity to serve the nation in this important office,” the statement said.
The endorsement came against the backdrop of controversies following her swearing-in by President John Dramani Mahama on October 12, 2026, together with Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, to fill vacancies created by the resignation of Dr Bossman Asare, who had returned to academia at the University of Ghana, and the mandatory retirement of Mr Samuel Tettey.
While Dr Asamoah, a law lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and former Director, Finance at the EC faced little opposition, Ms Agbenyo’s appointment sparked debate from the public, with critics citing her previous role as spokesperson for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto committee and her visible participation in NDC campaign activities as concerns for the perceived neutrality of the electoral body.
Defenders of the appointment, however, argued that Ghana’s 1992 Constitution did not bar politically affiliated persons from serving on the Commission, pointing to her public administration background as Deputy Director for Operations at the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service.
Acknowledging the weight of the moment, the AYC noted that, “The independence, impartiality and public credibility of the Electoral Commission are fundamental to Ghana’s constitutional democracy.
“Every officeholder has a responsibility to uphold these principles through fairness, transparency, professionalism and fidelity to the Constitution.”
The AYC said while it believed in supporting sons and daughters of Anlo who attain national office, their ultimate duty remained to Ghana and all its citizens.
“We are confident that Hon Agbenyo appreciates the weight of the responsibility she has assumed and the importance of demonstrating independence, sound judgement, fairness and fidelity to the Constitution in every aspect of her service,” the statement said.
The Council expressed confidence that her Anlo upbringing, anchored in values of integrity and community service, coupled with her experience in national operational management and institutional oversight, would guide her tenure.
“Our support for Hon. Agbenyo is therefore both an expression of confidence in her capabilities and an affirmation of the values of competence, integrity, fairness and responsible public service,” the statement said.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah