|
Nkoranza North electorate succumbed to
politics of intimidation - NDC
Accra, March 20, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC)
on Tuesday alleged that the electorate at Nkoranza North
succumbed to politics of intimidation and harassment before
and during the March 13 by-election.
"Key opinion leaders were influenced to threaten settler
farmers in various communities with eviction if they dared
come out to vote," Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, NDC General
Secretary, told the press in Accra.
He alleged that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) aided
by the security apparatus created a spectre of fear and
insecurity even days before the by-elections through the
peddling of lies that the NDC followers were committing
violent acts in the constituency.
"This tactic was used to justify the plan of the NPP to
cause the arrest of scores of NDC supporters and officials
on the day of the elections," he alleged.
According to him, the lies were deliberately peddled to
justify the deployment of huge numbers of security personnel
before and during the election, and these were eventually
used in intimidating and obstructing NDC officials in their
lawful duties.
Flanked by leading members of the party including, Mr
Kwamena Adjei, Chairman and Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Women's
Organizer, Mr Asiedu-Nketia said 28 NDC functionaries were
arrested and detained both in the run-up to the election and
during the election. However, none of them was charged.
Mr Asiedu-Nketia noted vehicles of virtually all NDC
officials were put under surveillance and searched at will.
He said the NDC was raising the issues to expose the lapses
and deliberate acts of manipulation that occurred in order
for corrective steps to be taken for future elections to
avoid Ghanaians witnessing the spectre of disputed elections
and their attendant crisis.
"We do not intend to mount a legal challenge to the results
of the by-election, but we wish to state in no uncertain
terms how appalled we are by the methods employed by the NPP
to gain victory in Nkoranza North.
"It clearly shows that NPP is a really desperate party, and
will stop at nothing to destroy all the values we hold
sacred in order to retain power by any means possible.”
He alleged that "heavy vote buying of constituents by the
NPP was conspicuous”. This was in addition to sharing of
money and various items including wax prints, Ghana@50
textiles, mattresses, Wellington boots, mats for Moslems,
cooking oil, rice, roofing sheets, cement and sewing
machines, which were freely distributed.
"Even though we lost the by-election to the NPP, NDC
increased its quota of votes from 5,402 in 2004 to 5,694 a
difference of 292.”
Dr Kofi Amoako-Gyampah, a medical practitioner of the NDC
had 5,694 as against the NPP's Major Derrick Oduro (rtd), a
businessman, who won the seat for NPP with 10,179.
In the 2004 parliamentary elections, Eric Amoateng (NPP) had
9,144, Amoako Hayford Francis (NDC) 5,402, Ofosu Adjei Kwame
Prince (INDP) 4,354 out of total valid votes of 18,900.
The by-election at Nkoranza North became necessary following
the resignation of the incumbent, Eric Amoateng, who is
facing charges of import of narcotic drugs into the United
States.
GNA
|
