Callistus Mahama urges parties to focus on voters rather than EC appointments

Executive Secretary to President John Dramani Mahama, Callistus Mahama, said political parties must focus on persuading voters and strengthening their election-day operations rather than allowing suspicions about the political affiliations of Electoral Commission (EC) officials to dominate electoral debates. He argued that concerns about the composition of the Commission should not distract parties from the work of building public confidence, developing credible policies and maintaining relationships with voters.

“Winning votes requires organisation, credible leadership, persuasive policies and attention to the concerns of communities. Retaining those votes requires performance and a continuing relationship with citizens,” he wrote in a commentary on Ghana’s electoral discourse. “Suspicion about the Electoral Commission cannot substitute for this work.” Warning against complacency Mr Mahama cautioned that portraying electoral victory as dependent primarily on who occupies positions at the Commission could encourage complacency among supporters when they favour an appointment and fatalism when they oppose it.

“There is little democratic value in teaching supporters that victory depends principally on who occupies an office at the Commission. Such a message can encourage complacency when a party feels comfortable with an appointment and fatalism when it does not,” he stated. He urged political leaders to promote lawful vigilance while encouraging supporters to engage in active campaigning and voter mobilisation.

“Supporters should understand both the importance of protecting their votes and the need to persuade others to vote with them,” he wrote. Parties urged to strengthen polling station operations Mr Mahama also challenged political parties to translate their emphasis on polling stations into practical preparations for election day. While acknowledging the importance of protecting votes, he said parties needed to ensure their agents were adequately prepared to monitor proceedings, verify figures, maintain records and promptly report discrepancies.

“Agents must understand their responsibilities. They must observe, check figures, keep relevant records, and report discrepancies promptly. Parties must organise credible systems for tracking results and following collation,” he said. He warned that parties risked neglecting essential electoral responsibilities when they devoted significant attention to public commentary without investing adequately in these operational tasks.

Calls for evidence-based electoral debate Mr Mahama advocated a more substantive national conversation about electoral integrity, centred on whether eligible citizens could register and vote, election procedures were applied consistently, and officials were adequately prepared. He also highlighted the importance of transparent result verification, open correction of errors and credible mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.

“The volume of debate is less important than its quality. A loud accusation may reveal little. A carefully documented discrepancy may reveal a great deal,” he said. He argued that scrutiny should focus on verifiable evidence and procedures capable of improving the electoral process rather than on political suspicion alone. Calls for consistent standards Mr Mahama further urged political actors to apply the same standards to electoral appointments and institutional decisions, regardless of which party holds power.

He posed questions about whether parties would defend the same appointment procedures under a different government or accept explanations from officials they distrusted. He said such questions could expose instances in which arguments about institutional independence were shaped by immediate political interests rather than consistent democratic principles.

Background to the debate Mr Mahama’s commentary comes amid debate over the appointment of Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah and Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns about Madam Agbenyo’s perceived affiliation with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and called for her withdrawal.

The controversy has renewed discussion about the political neutrality of electoral officials and the standards that should guide appointments to the Commission. Mr Mahama’s intervention argues that, alongside scrutiny of appointments, political parties must invest in voter persuasion, election monitoring and evidence-based challenges to any irregularities.