Ghana’s newly sworn-in Electoral Commission (EC) Deputy Chairpersons, Emelia Afi Agbenyo and Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, bring experience in technical and vocational education, electoral administration, law and financial management to the Commission.

The two were sworn into office by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, October 12, 2026, filling vacancies created by the departure of Dr Bossman Asare and the retirement of Samuel Tettey.

Here are six key facts about the new deputies, with three highlights for each.

Emelia Afi Agbenyo

1. She oversees 261 TVET institutions

Agbenyo is the Deputy Director General for Operations at the Ghana TVET Service, overseeing 261 technical and vocational education and training institutions and approximately 11,000 staff nationwide. Her work supports skills training for more than 70,000 young people in the formal TVET sector.

2. She has led national and donor-funded programmes

Her experience includes skills development, inclusive policy and gender transformation. She has also managed partnerships involving the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and GIZ Ghana.

3. She serves on national and organisational boards

Agbenyo is a Commissioner of the National Development Planning Commission. She also serves on the boards of the African Trade Chamber and Education and Aspirations.

Joseph Kwaku Asamoah

4. He is a lawyer, Chartered Accountant and election expert

Asamoah has 17 years of experience across the public and private sectors. His professional background combines legal expertise, financial management and electoral administration.

5. He has held key positions at the EC

He previously served as the Commission’s Director of Finance, Director of the Training Centre and Head of Audit. His profile also highlights his involvement in developing the Election Results Management System used for the 2016 election results.

6. He combines legal practice with academic and electoral policy work

Asamoah has lectured in law at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Wisconsin International University College. He practises as a Barrister and Solicitor at AKSA Legal and developed the MA in Electoral Policy and Security course at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).

The two deputies join the EC at a critical time for Ghana’s democratic governance. Their professional backgrounds will be brought to bear on the Commission’s responsibility to conduct credible, transparent and impartial elections.