Election Watch Ghana has commended the President for promoting women’s representation in national leadership, following the appointment and inauguration of Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah and Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
In a press release dated October 14, 2026, the group said it believes empowering women to occupy strategic public positions contributes to inclusive governance and gives capable individuals the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to national development.
“We also commend the President for promoting women’s representation in leadership and national decision-making,” the group stated.
Election Watch Ghana expressed hope that the new Deputy Chairpersons will justify the confidence reposed in them through professionalism, integrity and dedicated service to the nation.
It wished them success as they assume their responsibilities at a time when public confidence, institutional independence and technological innovation are vital to Ghana’s democratic development.
Call for reforms
While welcoming the appointments, the group renewed its call for constitutional and legal reforms to strengthen the independence, impartiality and credibility of the Electoral Commission.
It noted that recurring public concerns about the actual or perceived political affiliations of individuals appointed to the Commission underscore the need to review the existing appointment framework.
The group urged the President, Parliament, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support constitutional amendments that promote a transparent, merit-based and broadly consultative appointment process.
Election Watch Ghana acknowledged that political affiliation alone does not determine an individual’s ability to serve impartially, but stressed that the appointment process must inspire public confidence and minimise the risk or perception of partisan influence.
“The credibility of our elections must not depend solely on the integrity of individual officeholders but also on strong institutions that command public trust,” the group said.
Expertise and technology
The group further noted that credible elections require more than administrative experience, demanding operational expertise, technological competence and the ability to respond to the evolving challenges of modern election management.
Although it would have welcomed greater emphasis on demonstrable expertise in information technology, electoral systems, cybersecurity and election operations in the selection of candidates, Election Watch Ghana extended its goodwill to the new Deputy Chairpersons.
Given their relatively young stage in their leadership careers, the group encouraged them to pursue relevant IT courses, specialised training and professional certifications in areas such as election technology, cybersecurity, database management, electronic results management, data integrity and digital systems administration.
It said these competencies would help them contribute more effectively to the modernisation and oversight of the Commission’s technological systems, particularly those used for voter registration, results collation, transmission, verification and reporting.
Election Watch Ghana also urged the Commission to ensure that its electoral technologies undergo rigorous testing and appropriate independent audits, supported by safeguards against errors, manipulation, cyberattacks and unauthorised access, to ensure election results are secure, transparent, verifiable and worthy of public confidence.
Independence and public duty
The group expects the new Deputy Chairpersons to discharge their duties without fear, favour or political interference, with their primary obligation being to the Constitution of Ghana, the laws governing elections and the Ghanaian people, not to any political party, government or individual interest.
It encouraged them to maintain open and constructive engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, election observers, the media and the electorate while upholding the Commission’s independence, and to ensure that every eligible Ghanaian can participate in the electoral process and every valid vote is accurately counted and faithfully reflected in the final results.
“Ultimately, their legacy will be determined by their commitment to electoral integrity, their willingness to learn, and the improvements they deliver to the Commission’s operations,” the group added.
Election Watch Ghana said it remains committed to engaging constructively with the Commission while independently monitoring its performance in the interest of credible elections and democratic accountability.
“Ghana deserves an Electoral Commission that is independent in its decisions, competent in its operations, innovative in its systems, and accountable to the people,” the group stated.