No Preferential Treatment For NDC … Mahama Tells Newly Sworn-In Deputy EC Chairs

President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned the newly sworn-in Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC) against partisan conduct, insisting that the Commission must not give preferential treatment to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), his government or any political party.

He said the two officials must discharge their duties with impartiality, fairness and fidelity to the law to protect the integrity of Ghana’s electoral processes and restore public confidence in the Commission.

“Your duty is to the Republic of Ghana and its people. You must discharge your responsibilities without favour towards any political party, any candidate or government,” President Mahama said.

“As President, I expect no preferential treatment from the Electoral Commission for myself, my party or my government. I expect an institution that applies the same standards to everyone and protects Ghanaians’ right to choose their leaders freely.”

The President gave the warning when he swore in Emelia Afi Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah as Deputy Chairpersons of the EC.

He said the authority entrusted to them must be exercised with fairness and restraint, adding that they must be prepared to uphold the right thing even when doing so might be inconvenient for those in power.

“You must have the courage to uphold what is right, even when it is inconvenient for those in power,” he stressed.

The swearing-in ceremony places the two officials in leadership positions at an institution whose independence and credibility are central to Ghana’s democratic governance.

President Mahama said the Commission’s responsibilities went beyond conducting elections, explaining that its integrity, competence and fairness largely determined the confidence with which citizens exercised their democratic rights.

Through elections, he said citizens chose their leaders, held governments accountable and determined the direction of the country.

He, therefore, urged the new deputy chairpersons to ensure that every eligible citizen could participate in the electoral process and that every valid vote counted and was faithfully reflected in the outcome.

Restore public confidence

The President said public trust in the EC could not be demanded, but had to be earned through consistent conduct, transparent procedures, timely responses to concerns and the fulfilment of commitments.

He urged the new officials to make transparency and constructive engagement central to their work, particularly in their dealings with political parties, civil society organisations, the media and the general public.

“Listen carefully to political parties, civil society, the media and citizens. And where their concerns are well-founded, address them. Where their information is inaccurate, provide clear facts,” he said.

He further urged the Commission to acknowledge and correct mistakes promptly whenever they occurred, noting that citizens who raised questions about electoral processes deserved respectful answers.

“And where mistakes occur, acknowledge those mistakes and correct them promptly. Citizens who ask questions about electoral processes deserve respectful answers,” he added.

The President said such engagement would help strengthen the Commission and Ghana’s democracy.

His remarks come as the new leadership faces the task of strengthening confidence in the electoral management body and ensuring that its decisions and procedures are seen to be fair to all political actors.

Prepare beyond Election Day

President Mahama also reminded the new deputy chairpersons that credible elections required sustained preparation long before polling day.

He said the Commission needed accurate record-keeping, well-trained electoral officials, reliable logistics, secure systems and careful management of public resources.

He urged them to work closely with fellow commissioners and staff to strengthen professionalism across the institution, identify operational problems early and resolve them promptly.

“Credible elections require sustained preparation, accurate records-keeping, well-trained officials, reliable logistics, secure systems and careful resource management. And all these demand attention long before the day of polling,” he said.

The President further called for the responsible use of technology to improve the reliability and accessibility of electoral processes.

He said technological systems should be properly tested and supported by appropriate safeguards and clear communication with the public.

On inclusion, President Mahama urged the new officials to ensure that persons with disabilities, older citizens, women, young people and eligible voters in remote communities could participate in elections with dignity and confidence.

“Electoral participation must be accessible to all eligible citizens, including those who face physical, social or communication barriers,” he said.

He added that the quality of an electoral system could partly be measured by how effectively it served citizens who might otherwise be excluded.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Asamoah acknowledged the scale of the challenge, citing Afrobarometer findings that only 33 per cent of Ghanaians said they trusted the EC either somewhat or a lot.

He said the figure represented a substantial decline from 75 per cent in 2005 and 63 per cent in 1999, adding that the same level of trust was recorded after the 2024 general elections.

“These numbers are not mere statistics. They are a verdict and a call to action and a call to duty,” Dr Asamoah said.

“Restoring your confidence in this Commission is, therefore, not an option. It is an obligation imposed on us, and we personally must be judged by that particular figure.”

He pledged that the new leadership would work with the Commission’s staff and key stakeholders to review electoral processes and pursue continuous improvements without fear or favour.

Asamoah pledges zero tolerance for partisanship

Dr Asamoah pledged that the new leadership would place national interest above partisan political considerations and work to ensure that the EC remained accountable to the people of Ghana.

He said the Commission’s first responsibility and loyalty were to the people in whom sovereignty resided under Article 1 of the 1992 Constitution.

“Our first and foremost responsibility, Mr President, and loyalty is to the people of this country, in whom, under Article 1 of the 1992 Constitution, the sovereignty of this nation resides,” he said.

He assured Ghanaians that their votes would be protected and counted, describing the ballot as an expression of citizens’ voices and their future.

“Your vote is your voice and your future. And yes, it must be made to count, and it will count,” he said.

Dr Asamoah also pledged that the powers of the Commission would not be used to silence public criticism or suppress its staff.

“However critical their scrutiny at the works of the Commission may be, nor will it be used to suppress and oppress the staff of the Electoral Commission,” he said.

He said the leadership would instead work collectively with the Commission’s staff to implement electoral policies and reforms capable of strengthening Ghana’s democratic institutions.

“That work will rest on zero tolerance of partisan political interests and 100% tolerance for national interests,” he declared.

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