President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr. Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, a lawyer, chartered accountant, and electoral governance expert, as a Deputy Chairman of Electoral Commission (EC).
Dr. Asamoah, a law lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), brings more than 17 years of experience in electoral administration, public financial management, legal practice, academia and public policy to his new role.
His appointment follows the resignation of the Commission’s previous deputy chairperson, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare and and retirement of Samuel Tettey, creating vacancies in the EC’s senior leadership.
Dr. Asamoah’s background combines legal expertise, financial administration and practical experience in managing major electoral operations, positioning him as a contributor to the Commission’s work and the administration of elections in Ghana.
From EC Director Of Finance To Deputy Commissioner
Before his appointment, Dr. Asamoah held several senior positions at the Electoral Commission, including Director of Finance, Director of the Training Centre and Head of Audit.
In these roles, he was involved in financial control, institutional training, budget management and the coordination of donor-supported electoral projects. His experience provided him with an understanding of the administrative and technical demands of running a national election management institution.
According to his professional profile, Dr. Asamoah played active roles in the management of the 2012 and 2016 general elections, as well as the 2010 and 2015 district-level elections.
He also participated in the electoral administration surrounding the 2019 referendum on the creation of six new regions.
His previous responsibilities are expected to give him valuable insight into the Commission’s operational procedures, particularly in electoral logistics, staff training, financial accountability, and election-related information management.
One of the notable achievements highlighted in his professional profile was his role during the 2016 general elections, when the Electronic Results Transmission System reportedly broke down.
Dr. Asamoah developed an Election Results Management System that was used as an alternative. The system was commended for its efficiency and transparency in the declaration of the presidential election results.
That experience forms an important part of his professional record and demonstrates his involvement in addressing technical challenges during a major national electoral exercise.
Bossman Asare’s Exit
Dr. Asamoah’s appointment follows a significant change in the Electoral Commission’s leadership involving the departure of Dr. Bossman Eric Asare and Samuel Tettey, who previously served as deputy chairpersons under Chairperson Jean Mensa.
On June 15, 2026, Government Communications Minister and Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced that Dr. Bossman Asare had submitted his resignation to President Mahama, effective July 31, 2026.
The stated reason was that Dr. Asare wished to return to academia and continue his career at the University of Ghana.
Tettey’s departure was attributed to his reaching the mandatory retirement age. The two departures therefore arose under different circumstances, with Dr. Asare opting to return to academia and Tettey leaving upon retirement.
Dr. Bossman Asare had served as Deputy Chairperson responsible for Corporate Affairs. Before his appointment to the EC in 2018 by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he was Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana.
He holds a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from Ohio University and a PhD in Political Science from West Virginia University. His academic background in political science and international affairs informed his work in electoral governance and institutional administration.
His tenure at the Commission coincided with some of Ghana’s most politically contested electoral debates, including disagreements over voter registration, election administration, and the conduct of the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
The Commission’s leadership faced criticism from opposition parties and sections of civil society over aspects of its work, while remaining responsible for administering elections in accordance with the law.
Dr. Asare’s departure was not announced as a dismissal. The official explanation was that he intended to return to academia. Tettey’s exit, meanwhile, was linked to retirement.
The vacancies created by their departures prompted succession arrangements at the Commission, with the Presidency indicating that steps would be taken to fill the positions.
Dr. Asamoah’s appointment represents a significant development in the reorganisation of the EC’s senior leadership.
His previous service within the institution could help provide continuity as the Commission manages its administrative, operational and corporate responsibilities.
Legal, Academic And Professional Credentials
Beyond his experience at the Electoral Commission, Dr. Asamoah has built a professional career spanning law, accounting, economics and electoral governance.
He is a barrister and solicitor with Asante-Krobea & Associates, also known as AKA Legal, where he handles civil and criminal litigation, corporate advisory work, legal drafting and alternative dispute resolution.
In academia, he lectures in law at KNUST and Wisconsin International University College and serves as an adjunct lecturer at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
At KAIPTC, he served as the sole course consultant for the development of a Master of Arts programme in Electoral Policy and Security. He also facilitates the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission Course, which prepares participants for election observation in accordance with international standards and best practices.
His professional profile indicates that his work in electoral capacity building extends beyond Ghana, including consultancy and training assignments for institutions in Nigeria and other African countries.
Dr. Asamoah holds a PhD in Political Economy and Diplomacy, with doctoral research examining electoral administration and conflict resolution in Africa through a comparative study of Ghana and Kenya.
His qualifications also include a Master of Laws in Commercial and Corporate Law from the United Kingdom, a postgraduate diploma in International Business Law, a master’s degree in Accounting and Finance, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, which he completed with First Class Honours.
He also holds a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration from the Institute of Commercial Management in the United Kingdom and he is pursuing another PhD at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ghana.
He belongs to the Ghana Bar Association, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana, and the Institute of Certified Economists, Ghana.
His research interests include electoral governance, democratic development, public policy, finance and legal reform. He is also involved in research and publication on legal issues, electoral administration and democracy in Africa.
Another Deputy Expected As EC Reshapes Leadership
Dr. Asamoah’s background as a former Director of Finance, Director of the Training Centre and Head of Audit suggests that he brings experience in institutional administration, financial oversight and electoral operations. However, the specific portfolio he will assume under the new arrangement will depend on the Commission’s formal leadership structure and any official designation accompanying his appointment.
It is also expected that another deputy will be appointed to work alongside him, subject to the relevant appointment processes and official announcements, to ensure that the Commission has the leadership capacity required to carry out its constitutional mandate.
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