An old video of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa criticising the appointment of Dr Bossman Asare as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) has resurfaced, following President John Dramani Mahama’s recent appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo to the same position.

In the footage circulating on social media on October 13, 2026, Ablakwa was heard questioning the appointment of a person he described as a known political financier to serve on the electoral management body.

“If it was President Mahama in power, and he has appointed an out-and-out and known paying patron as an electoral commissioner, I would have said, ask for this. It is not the right thing to do,” he said.

He further cautioned against decisions that are not guided by principle and fairness.

“When you don't act based on principle, when you don't act based on fairness, you will be caught up in your own web. You will fall in your own trap,” Ablakwa added.

The resurfaced video comes after Mahama swore in Agbenyo, a former Deputy Director for Operations at the Ghana TVET Service, and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah, a law lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), as Deputy Chairpersons of the EC.

Agbenyo’s appointment has attracted criticism from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over her previous involvement as a governance-sector spokesperson during the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s 2024 manifesto process.

Dr Bossman Asare resigns as EC Deputy Chairperson

The criticism has centred on whether her previous political association could affect public perceptions of the EC’s independence and impartiality.

Dr Asamoah previously held several senior positions at the Commission, including Director of Finance, Director of the Training Centre and Head of Audit.

The appointments followed the resignation of Dr Bossman Asare, who was responsible for Corporate Affairs, effective July 31, 2026, and the retirement of former Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.

See the video below:

FLASHBACK: When Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa criticized the appointment of a known TESCON patron as Deputy EC Commissioner, he said if Mahama appointed a TEIN patron, he would call it wrong

VC: TV3 https://t.co/Toid88Ny5e

— Asaase 99.5 (@asaaseradio995) October 13, 2026