Ejisu by-election: Aduomi was NPP member and MP for 12yrs – Kingsley Nyarko explains ‘tensed’ poll in NPP stronghold
Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Dr Kngsley Nyarko has explained the reason for the tense by-election in Ejisu, which is the stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He stated that the NPP is not leaving any stone unturned because one of the other aspirants, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, was once upon a time a member of parliament for the area for twelve years.
Therefore he has footprints in the constituency.
To that end, they are not taking chances at all in the elections, he said.
“We are working so hard to win this election, dont forget that our main opponent was a member of the party, and had been MP for 12 years, so he has a footprint. That is why we are saying that we are doing everything possible, working hard to ensure that we win the elections, we will do everything appropriate to win it,” he told journalists in the constituency.
Over 100,000 voters are voting today (April 30, 2024) to decide on who will replace the late Dr John Kumah as representative of the people of Ejisu Constituency in Parliament.
Six candidates are contesting for the seat.
They are; a former Member of Parliament for the area, now contesting as independent candidate, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, New Patriotic Party’s Kwabena Boateng, Convention People’s Party’s Esther Osei, Liberal Party of Ghana’s Beatrice Boakye, Freduah Agyemang Joseph and Attakorah Joseph both independent candidates.
Meanwhile the Electoral Commission (EC) has urged electorates to trust them as they will ensure the voting is done in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
Reacting to allegations by the camp of one of the independent candidates that some ballot boxes have been stuffed in an attempt to rig the election, the Commission asked the public to ignore that claim.
“The time the allegation was made, we had not even started printing the ballot. How then can someone stuff the ballot boxes. And how is that even going to be done? Because our ballot box is transparent, and we open it before we start voting.
After close of polls, we open it there and then to count it in the presence of everybody. So how possible can somebody stuff the ballot box? These are false allegations and must not be given any attention. So, everybody should have confidence in the system. We as a Commission will not allow anybody to cheat or be cheated”, Ashanti Regional Director of Electoral Commission, Benjamin Bannor-Bio told 3news.com.
Mr Bannor-Bio however implored candidates to choose agents who are vigilant.
“The candidate should also trust the system and provide agents who are very effective, know the processes and can defend their rights. It’s not just bringing anyone who is loud, but can’t differentiate between 69 and 96”, he advised the contesting candidates.
Earlier, in interview with 3news’Ibrahim Abubakar, officials of EC assured that there will not be an issue of delay in all the 204 polling stations.
