President John Dramani Mahama has said he expects no preferential treatment from the Electoral Commission (EC) for himself, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or his government, stressing the need for fairness and impartiality in the management of the country’s electoral processes.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of Joseph Kwaku Asamoah and Emilia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission, President Mahama said the Commission must apply the same standards to all political parties and candidates.
“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,” he said.
He urged the two appointees to discharge their responsibilities without favour towards any political party, candidate or government, emphasising that their primary duty was to the Republic of Ghana and its people.
President Mahama further cautioned that the authority of the Commission must be exercised with fairness, restraint and fidelity to the law.
He said public trust in the Electoral Commission must be earned through consistent conduct, transparent procedures, timely attention to concerns and the fulfilment of commitments.
The President encouraged the new Deputy Chairpersons to make transparency and constructive engagement central to their work by listening carefully to political parties, civil society organisations, the media and citizens.
He urged the Commission to address well-founded concerns, provide accurate information where claims are incorrect, and acknowledge and correct mistakes promptly when they occur.
President Mahama also stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of elections, noting that credible electoral processes require sustained preparation, accurate record-keeping, well-trained officials, reliable logistics, secure systems and effective resource management.
He called on the new Deputy Chairpersons to work closely with fellow Commissioners and staff to promote professionalism, maintain consistent standards and ensure that problems are identified and resolved promptly.
The President reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting the Electoral Commission in carrying out its mandate while respecting its independence.
He charged the two appointees to allow competence, fairness and the national interest to guide their work throughout their tenure.
