Seasoned journalist Kwesi Pratt has questioned the appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), citing her reported involvement in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto committee and her public presentation of the party’s manifesto on governance.
Mr Pratt said the appointment raised questions about the Electoral Commission’s perceived neutrality, given Agbenyo’s public association with the governing party.
“I’m wondering why somebody who was a member of the manifesto committee of the National Democratic Congress, not just that, who also read the NDC manifesto on governance publicly and so on, clearly openly identified with the NDC, will be given such a position given the history that we have,” he said on Metro TV.
“Elections can go wrong merely out of perception,” Mr Pratt said, adding that it was important for the electoral management body to “appear transparent and neutral”.
“Our authorities are telling us that out of these 35 million Ghanaians, they cannot find persons who at least appear neutral to manage elections,” he said.
Mr Pratt said he was deeply concerned about Agbenyo’s appointment because of the need to protect public confidence in the EC’s work.
