A national communication team member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Kwadwo Agyei Yeboah, popularly known as Nana Kay, has indicated that the party may be compelled to employ violent means in resolving electoral disputes.
In reference to the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to organize a rerun of the parliamentary election in 19 polling stations in the disputed Ablekuma North constituency, Nana Kay accused the EC of allowing the NDC to utilize intimidation, thereby forcing a rerun, despite an initial ruling to the contrary.
Nana Kay emphasized that the EC lacks the authority to declare a rerun without a court order from a competent jurisdiction.
He stated that the NPP will contest the EC’s decision in court and seek to have it overturned, cautioning, however, that the party will also employ force to protect its ballot if that becomes the accepted standard.
The young politician alleged that NDC members threatened EC officials during the collation of results, demanding that their candidate be declared the winner, and even set fire to the building housing the ballot boxes.
When questioned about the lack of evidence supporting his assertion, Nana Kay maintained that the incidents and behavior exhibited during the process pointed to only one conclusion: that the NDC was responsible for burning the building.
Speaking on “Nyankonton Mu Nsem” on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said the NPP won with a margin of 414 votes, and the EC had initially indicated that there were only three polling stations outstanding. “All of a sudden, they are talking about 19 polling stations,” he remarked.
“And surprisingly, the three outstanding stations they had made reference to are not part of the 19. So clearly, it affirms that there has been a machination and manipulation between the EC and the NDC. Where did the 19 come from? I don’t know if it is because the EC and its officials have been intimidated or threatened and out of fear want to do this, but then the NPP has sounded a warning that we will never accept the rerun.
I want to also sound this caution to civil society groups, religious leaders, and groups who have refused to comment on the issue and are looking on while the NDC uses and abuses its power: then the tables will soon turn. I want to also remind the NDC that if they think that they can use violence in disrupting an election when they lose and force a re-election, then it wouldn’t be difficult for the NPP to also take the same decision, and where would you think it will lead Ghana?”
He added that the NDC has established a detrimental precedent wherein one is not required to expend resources on campaigns prior to an election, but rather allocate funds towards employing thugs who will instigate disturbances at centres where one has been defeated, thereby disrupting the electoral process and potentially necessitating a rerun of the election.
“You will recall that there were some eight disputed constituencies where the High Court ordered the EC to collate the results and declare the winners. Okaikwei Central was part of them and after the process, Patrick Yaw Boamah won with over a 200-vote margin. In Nsawam Adoagyiri, Honourable Annor-Dompreh won. In all the constituencies they challenged, after the collation, they lost, and so it should tell you that it is a deliberate attempt by the NDC. These are some of the reasons why some of us have decided to contest the National Organizer position, and we will meet them squarely. Mark my words, we will meet them squarely.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
