Presidential staffer Beatrice Annan has defended the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), insisting that she is not a card-bearing member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ms Annan said Agbenyo’s involvement in the NDC’s campaign activities ahead of the 2020 and 2024 general elections was driven by her longstanding advocacy for gender equality and women’s representation in leadership, rather than formal membership of the party.
“She is not a card-bearing member of the National Democratic Congress, has never been a card-bearing member of the National Democratic Congress,” Ms Annan said during an interview on Eyewitness News on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Her comments follow concerns raised by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) about Agbenyo’s political neutrality after her appointment and subsequent swearing-in, alongside Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah, as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission.
The NPP has questioned Agbenyo’s suitability for the position, citing her participation in the NDC’s campaign activities and her previous role as a spokesperson for the party’s manifesto committee on governance.
However, Ms Annan urged critics to consider Agbenyo’s professional background and record of gender advocacy, arguing that her involvement in political discussions should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of partisan bias.
“If you look at her CV critically, before even the NPP came into power in 2016, she had been a gender advocate,” she said.
She added that Agbenyo had worked as a technical adviser and gender analyst with GIZ Ghana, highlighting her professional experience in gender-related issues.
According to Ms Annan, the NDC welcomed contributions from non-partisan professionals during its 2020 and 2024 election campaigns, allowing individuals with relevant expertise to participate in policy development and advocacy without necessarily becoming party members.
She explained that Agbenyo’s support for the party’s female running mate ahead of the 2024 general elections was consistent with her commitment to increasing women’s representation in political leadership.
Ms Annan further claimed that Agbenyo had warned the NDC before the 2024 elections that she and other gender advocates would campaign against the party if it failed to retain a female running mate.
She also pointed to Agbenyo’s criticism of the NDC in 2016 over what she considered poor governance, arguing that her willingness to criticise the party demonstrated her independence and her right to express political opinions as a citizen and gender advocate.
“She has not done anything to demonstrate any potential bias or imminent bias,” Ms Annan said.
Annan defends appointment process
Addressing concerns about the process leading to the appointment of the two deputy EC chairpersons, Ms Annan maintained that the presidency had complied with the relevant legal and constitutional requirements.
She said the nominees had been presented to the Council of State more than a month before their swearing-in, adding that the council had undertaken extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders as part of the process.
However, she acknowledged that greater public participation could have helped address some of the concerns surrounding the appointments.
“Feedback noted. Maybe in the future, the public should be more involved in the processes,” she said.
Ms Annan reiterated that no card-bearing member of the NDC had been appointed as a Deputy Electoral Commissioner, urging the public to assess Agbenyo’s suitability based on her professional qualifications and experience rather than her gender advocacy or participation in political discourse.