Mahama will deliver a credible EC Deputy Commissioner – ING. Abeiku Hayford

A member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ing. Abeiku Hayford, has expressed confidence in President John Dramani Mahama’s ability to appoint a credible and impartial replacement for outgoing Electoral Commission (EC) Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Bossman Asare.

His comments come in the wake of Dr. Asare’s resignation as Deputy Commissioner in charge of Corporate Services, a development that has sparked discussions about the future composition of the Electoral Commission and the qualities required of those entrusted with managing Ghana’s electoral processes.

Speaking on Tamale-based Kesmi FM, Ing. Hayford said the vacancy presents an opportunity to further strengthen public confidence in the Electoral Commission by appointing an individual whose integrity and neutrality are beyond question.

According to him, the credibility of the country’s electoral system depends largely on the trust citizens place in the leadership of the Commission. For that reason, he believes the process of selecting a replacement must be guided by competence, professionalism and independence.

While emphasizing the need for a transparent appointment process, the engineer and risk management consultant expressed optimism that President Mahama would act in the national interest and select a candidate capable of commanding broad public confidence.

“I know the president is going to do that. I trust him, and I know he will deliver on this,” he stated.

Ing. Hayford further argued that appointments to key positions within the Electoral Commission should always be subjected to thorough scrutiny to ensure that office holders are able to perform their duties without any perception of political bias.

He suggested that relevant state institutions, including the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), could assist in conducting background checks on prospective candidates to ascertain their suitability for the position.

“We can task the National Intelligence Bureau, whoever is going for Bossman Asare’s portfolio, I think we need to do a thorough investigation about them. We actually have to go back to the various political parties to see whether the person is a card-bearing member of any of the parties. Because at the end of the day, if the person has a particular link to any of the political parties, it will cause us a lot,” he said.

The NDC member also reflected on the circumstances surrounding previous changes in the leadership of the Electoral Commission, noting that the appointment and resignation of public officials often generate broader conversations about institutional credibility and public accountability.

“The circumstances surrounding his appointment remain a matter of public record. Ghanaians remember how Charlotte Osei and her deputies were removed and replaced by the Akufo-Addo administration. At the time, the NPP justified those decisions as necessary to improve the Electoral Commission. Today, one of the very individuals appointed under that process has resigned, and that naturally raises questions about the wisdom of those decisions. Those who made and defended those appointments must account to Ghanaians,” he stated.

Ing. Hayford maintained that the Electoral Commission remains one of Ghana’s most important democratic institutions and therefore requires leadership that enjoys public trust across political divides.

He expressed hope that the appointment of a new Deputy Commissioner would reinforce confidence in the Commission and contribute to the continued strengthening of Ghana’s democratic credentials.