President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah and Emilia Afi Agbeno as the new Deputy Chairpersons of Ghana's Electoral Commission, telling the two that the institution they're joining "touches the very foundation of our democracy."
Addressing EC officials, government ministers and guests at the ceremony, Mahama didn't waste time getting to the point.
Elections, he said, are how citizens choose their leaders, hold government accountable, and decide where the country is headed.
How much confidence people place in that process, he argued, comes down largely to one thing: whether the Electoral Commission does its job with integrity, competence and fairness.
"The appointments carry a substantial responsibility to ensure that every eligible citizen can participate in the process and that every vote counts," Mahama told the new deputies, making clear that the ceremony wasn't just a formality.
Two Different Backgrounds, One Mandate
Mahama spent time laying out why each appointee was chosen, and the pitch for both leaned heavily on experience rather than promise.
Dr Kweku Asamoah, he noted, comes with an accounting background and a track record that includes stints with the Electoral Commission itself, giving him what Mahama called practical knowledge of "its systems, its people and its operational needs."
His work on lean administration, management and training of electoral officers, along with exposure to security training, was singled out as proof he understands how the commission actually runs on the ground, not just on paper.
Agbeno's résumé reads differently but points in the same direction. Mahama described her as someone with extensive leadership experience, having been engaged in nationwide operations, policy implementation, and partnerships with institutions along the way.
"These capabilities will serve the commission well," he said, suggesting her strength lies in coordination and execution rather than theory.
Beyond the résumés, Mahama used part of his remarks to push both appointees toward specific priorities once they settle into office.
He wants the commission to widen access for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, women, young and remote voters who have historically found it harder to take part in elections.
Building transparency into how the commission operates was another point he returned to, framing it as something that strengthens public trust rather than just satisfying a checklist.
A Shared Responsibility, Not Just the EC's Job
Mahama was careful not to place the entire burden of election integrity on the commission alone. He said political parties must act responsibly.
Citizens need to reject intimidation and violence when they see it. The media has a duty to verify information before putting it out, and security services are expected to carry out their work professionally and without bias.
"Protecting the integrity of elections is a shared national responsibility," he said, a line that doubled as both an appeal and a warning to everyone listening, not just the two officials being sworn in.
Mahama pledged the government's continued support for the commission's work while insisting its independence remains untouched.
It's a balance successive governments have claimed to strike, though Mahama's framing suggested he wanted it stated plainly on the record.
Competence, Fairness, National Interest
Closing his remarks, Mahama turned directly to Dr Kweku Asamoah and Agbeno with what amounted to a personal charge.
"The oaths we have taken today must guide your decisions throughout your tenure on the commission.
"Let competence distinguish your work, let fairness shape your judgment, and let the national interest remain your constant compass." - President Mahama
He ended on a lighter note, congratulating both appointees again and wishing them wisdom and success in the years ahead, a fairly standard close for a ceremony that, in substance, set out fairly specific expectations for how Ghana's next election cycle should be managed.
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