Election Watch Ghana has called on President John Dramani Mahama to appoint transformational leaders to the Electoral Commission (EC) following the resignation and retirement of two senior officials of the election management body.
The group said the departures present an opportunity to restore public confidence in the Commission and strengthen the credibility of Ghana’s electoral system.
Deputy Chairperson of the EC in charge of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Bossman Asare, and Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, are both set to leave office effective July 31, 2026. While Dr. Asare is returning to academia, Mr. Tettey is retiring from the Commission.
In a statement issued on June 16, 2026, Election Watch Ghana argued that the tenure of the outgoing officials was marked by declining public trust and concerns about the Commission’s performance.
“Their tenure was marked by disappointments, inconsistency, and lack of trust from the public,” the group said.
The group urged the President to appoint deputy commissioners who would prioritise innovation, efficiency and transparency in the conduct of elections.
“As Ghana looks to the future, we urge the President to appoint a new deputy leadership that prioritises innovation, efficiency, and transparency. The next Electoral Commission deputy commissioners must leverage modern technologies to streamline voting processes, result transmission, and collation to ensure timely and credible elections,” the statement said.
Election Watch Ghana also opposed the promotion of current junior officers within the Commission to the vacant positions, arguing that such appointments would not help restore public confidence in the institution.
“We emphasize that the current junior officers do not possess the requisite credibility and public integrity to assume the leadership role, and Election Watch Ghana will not accept any appointment that promotes them to these positions. The people of Ghana deserve better,” it stated.
The group further expressed concern about the constitutional process for appointing Electoral Commission officials, describing it as lacking sufficient transparency.
According to Election Watch Ghana, the current arrangement, which allows the President to appoint EC officials in consultation with the Council of State, has contributed to perceptions of partisanship and weakened confidence in the Commission’s independence.
“We call for a more transparent and inclusive appointment process that prioritizes merit and public interest,” the statement said.
The group stressed that any new appointees must demonstrate integrity, impartiality and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
“The people of Ghana expect a transformational leader who will influence the current chair to restore trust in the electoral process. It is our expectation that the new appointees will be equal to the task and serve the nation with distinction,” it added.
