No Party Card, just a Party Microphone! A Ghanaian story of Elections, Referees and Convenient Amnesia

In a certain Ghanaian town, two football clubs quarrelled over the appointment of a referee. The lady chosen was an accomplished professional who had recently travelled with one team, explained its tactics and encouraged supporters to believe in victory. The club chairman dismissed the protests: the referee had never possessed an official membership card. Surely the spectators could now go home satisfied. What more convincing evidence of neutrality could anyone demand? If this sounds like village comedy, replace football with elections and the pitch with Ghana. On 12 October, President John Dramani Mahama swore in Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, alongside Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah. He urged them to serve without favour. Excellent advice. Unfortunately, Ghana, that hardworking factory of political contradictions, has noticed a complication in the packaging.