Wednesday, 14 October

Kwakye Ofosu: Appointing NDC’s Agbenyo to EC part of 'reset' to 'tilt the balance'

Politics
Emelia Afi Agbenyo (L) and President JD Mahama (R)

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has acknowledged that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) intentionally appointed Emelia Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) to "tilt the balance" in the political composition of the commission.

Speaking on Joy FM's Top Story on Tuesday, October 13, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the appointment was meant to address what he described as an imbalance in the commission's political composition.

He acknowledged that some people have legitimate concerns about Ms Agbenyo's appointment because of her previous political activities for the NDC, but said she would prove to be professional and unbiased in her duties.

"I have acknowledged that there are people who have legitimate concerns, but those concerns in my view will be mitigated by the conduct of madam Afi [Emelia Afi Agbenyo] herself in the role that she's been given," he said.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu accused the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which has called for the revocation of the appointment, of applying double standards. He argued that the NPP had previously appointed people affiliated with it to state institutions.

He also questioned why the commission's political composition should remain unchanged if, as he claimed, some of its commissioners are associated with the NPP. He described the appointment as part of the NDC's Reset Agenda, which has been promoted as a way of undoing the ills of the previous NPP government.

"The other issue is that you see a Reset could also mean balancing the lopsided state institutions. Why is it acceptable for us to have a situation where out of seven commissioners who manage Ghana's elections, almost four of them are NPPs? Why should we live with that? What is wrong with tilting the balance?" he asked.

Asked whether "tilting the balance" meant appointing an NDC member to the commission, Mr Kwakye Ofosu answered: "Yes."

At the swearing-in ceremony for Ms Agbenyo and Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, President Mahama charged the two new Deputy Chairpersons to carry out their duties independently and impartially.

Source: classfmonline.com