The Electoral Commission (EC) has been challenged to audit the results of the Assembly Elections held at Akwateakwaso Electoral Area over alleged fraud.
The Communication Directorate of the party at Akropong during a press conference held on Monday January 16, 2024, described the run-off election held on January 9 as orchestrated plan between the ruling New Patriotic Party and the Electoral Commission mandated to supervise the exercise.
Bawa Aminu Sumaila, the Akropong Constituency Director of Elections and also the Communication Officer spoke on behalf of the party as he was a counting officer at one of the polling centres during the day of voting where incident of over voting allegedly took place.
According to him, the total vote cast was 117 instead of the expected 102 voters at the Tadankro L/A Primary school but the Electoral Commission refused to heed to the NDC request for a challenge form but rather went ahead to declare the results.
“We stand before you today with a heavy heart, compelled to expose the egregious and politically motivated irregularities that marred the District Assembly Elections in the Akwateakwaso Electoral Area in particular and the general electoral infractions in the Akuapem North Municipality.
The actions of the Jean Mensah-led Electoral Commission (EC) have not only demonstrated gross incompetence but have also revealed a sinister plot to undermine the democratic process to the benefit of pro NPP candidates.
The events surrounding the District Assembly Elections underscore the incompetence that has become synonymous with the Jean Mensah-led EC. This once respected institution, tasked with upholding the sanctity of our democratic process, has instead become a puppet show, manipulated by this NPP government in power to subvert the will of the people, like it happened in Ayawaso West Wougon by election on 31st January 2019 and the 2020 general elections.
It will surprise you to know that candidate Acheampong Asante Theophilous, a son of a former NPP polling station executive, and a member of the Ghana Armed Forces, was shamelessly sponsored by Sammy Awuku and the NPP with state resources to contest under false pretenses, falsely indicating the noble profession of a teacher.
Despite the imposter Acheampong Asante Theophilous’ clear violation of electoral rules, the Municipal EC Director and his office, already implicated in this electoral fraud, demonstrated a shocking failure of due diligence. They approved his candidacy to contest at Konko Electoral Area without question, allowing his criminality to flourish and tarnish the democratic values we hold dear.As has been a long-standing customary in any transparent electoral process, the EC allows aspirants to inspect election materials at least (24 hours) before the polls open. This practice is not a mere courtesy; it is a fundamental aspect of ensuring the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
However, the Jean Mensah-led EC and Mr. Solomon Algaga, the accomplice Municipal EC Director, callously denied this basic right to aspirants in Akuapem North Municipal with the exception of Otwitri Korkomu Electoral area. In the process of this ill-conceived cover-up, the EC, in its compromised state, misplaced Gyan Manu Samuel, candidate number 4 in Asinbronmu Electoral Area and replaced it with the picture of Maxwell Darko, candidate number 3.
This flagrant act of manipulation was designed with malicious intent — to confuse voters who sought to cast their votes for the genuine candidate, Gyan Manu Maxwell.Distinguished members of the Media, let us walk you through the steps of revealing this high level electoral fraud with hard core undeniable evidence from the run off of the District Assembly Elections on January 9th 2024.
Evidences of Fraud:
Dear Members of the Media, After a thorough investigation, our hardworking team found a lot of over-voting and vote stuffing that heavily favored the NPP candidate supported by the government and the Electoral Commission at the Akwateakwaso Electoral Area specifically Tadankro L/A Primary School (polling station code (E072002), on January 9, 2024.
Shockingly, fifteen (15) ballot papers were discovered with different EC validation stamp number (0041069), whiles the correct polling station validation stamp number is (0042575), different ink colors, and distinct ballot serial numbers – all systematically cast in favor of candidate number 2 (Nyarko Robert Kwabena), who is a known NPP member and sponsored by Sammy Awuku and the NPP party. This shows how far they are willing to go to change the people’s democratic will and verdict.Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media, consequentially, the total number of ballots cast (117) was higher than the verified number of voters (102). This is clear proof that the election process was rigged to help Nyarko Robert Kwabena, who is running as an NPP candidate.Protests and calls for recounting at Akwateakwaso L/A Primary School (E072001) and Okotom P/S (E072003) were met with forceful resistance from EC officials and some compromised security personnel, with the support of some thugs working for the pro NPP candidate (Nyarko Robert Kwabena), as news of the ongoing over voting and ballot stuffing spread to other polling centers.
The legitimacy of the electoral process and Mr. Solomon Algaga, the Director of the Municipal Electoral Commission, is seriously called into question by this flagrant disregard for concerns and the need for openness.We know that these illegal actions could not have occurred without the full cooperation of Jean Mensah, the Chairperson of the EC, and her compromised Municipal EC Director, Mr. Solomon Algaga. As the custodians of these electoral materials, they are responsible for ensuring the sanctity of the democratic process.
How did voters gain access to EC validation stamps and ballot papers with EC ballot paper validated serial numbers? These foreign ballot papers, bizarrely, all cast im favor of candidate Nyarko Robert Kwabena, sponsored by the Tax-a-Ton Nana Addo and Bawumia NPP government and its puppet, Mr. Sammy Awuku.We categorically state that this is not just a discrepancy; it is outright fraud, a betrayal of the democratic values that our nation holds dear.The question remains: if this is not fraud, then what do we call it? We are of the firm believe the compromised Jean Mensah led EC and her subordinates must answer to this electoral fraud.
Dear media members, another unethical incident is that candidates supported by the NPP blatantly broke electoral regulations on election day. These candidates flagrantly ignored the regulations and used a myriad of illegal measures to sway the outcome. Free and fair elections were completely disregarded by the pro-NPP candidates. Tactics such as vote buying , abuse of power, and use of assets of National Lottery Authority (NLA) for political purposes (e.g., using NLA Toyota Hilux vehicles, including one with registration number (GR 7493/19) to transport alleged NPP supporters to voting centers, among other things. By abusing our most vulnerable citizens, the NPP tarnished our democratic process and dishonored the sacred act of voting.In the face of overwhelming evidence of electoral irregularities and fraud, we demand an immediate audit of the ballots at Akwateakwaso L/A Primary School (E072001) and Okotom P/S (E072003) and rerun of the elections in the Electoral Area.
The people of Akwateakwaso and Asinbronmu Electoral Areas deserve a fair chance to exercise their democratic right without the undue influence of fraudulent activities orchestrated by the NPP and aided by the compromised Jean Mensah EC and her Municipal EC Director, Mr. Solomon Algaga.To the members of the media, before we conclude with the sordid revelations of electoral fraud in the Akwateakwaso and other Electoral Areas, it is crucial to shed light on the broader implications of the NPP government’s reliance on such nefarious tactics to cling to power in 2024.
The orchestrated fraud we expose today is not an isolated incident but a calculated strategy employed by the NPP, facilitated by a compromised Jean Mensah-led EC. The stark reality is that the NPP government, secure in their belief that electoral fraud will secure their power in 2024, has callously neglected the pressing needs of the people. The citizens are burdened with exorbitant taxes, grapple with deteriorating roads, and witness a blatant disregard for development. The NPP government, buoyed by their reliance on electoral malpractice, has become indifferent to the welfare of the very people they swore to serve.
The NDC remains committed to upholding the principles of democracy. We stand with the people of these electoral areas and all Ghanaians who yearn for a nation where the will of the people is not traded for political gain.We call on all well-meaning stakeholders of the democratic process, especially our friends in the media and the National Peace Council, to increase your interest and vigilance. You have a crucial role in exposing the electoral fraud. Gather evidence, ask the hard questions, and hold the EC officials accountable at all levels. Our peace and stability as a nation hang in the balance, and silence in the face of such blatant injustice is not an option” he emphasized.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
