Presidential staffer, Beatrice Annan, has defended the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), dismissing concerns about her participation in the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s campaign activities.

Speaking on Citi FM, Annan argued that taking part in political campaigns does not automatically make a person partisan or incapable of performing official duties impartially.

“She is not a card-bearing member of the National Democratic Congress and has never been a card-bearing member of the National Democratic Congress. She has not done anything to demonstrate any potential bias or imminent bias,” she said.

Annan also defended the appointment process, stating that the presidency had complied with the constitutional requirements.

According to her, the nominees were submitted to the Council of State more than a month before their swearing-in to allow time for consultations with relevant stakeholders.

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She further highlighted Agbenyo’s professional background in gender advocacy, noting that her work in the field began before the New Patriotic Party (NPP) assumed office in 2016.

“If you look at her CV critically, before even the NPP came into power in 2016, she had been a gender advocate,” Annan said, adding that Agbenyo had worked as a technical adviser and gender analyst with GIZ Ghana.

However, her appointment, alongside that of Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah as another Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, has attracted criticism from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The party has questioned Agbenyo’s suitability for the position, citing her participation in NDC campaign activities and her role as a spokesperson for the party’s manifesto committee on governance.

MRA/VPO

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