Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed the party's readiness to engage the Electoral Commission (EC) in addressing alleged infractions identified by the party's monitoring teams in the recently held Kumawu by-election.
This comes after Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, raised allegations of vote-buying by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the election.
Nurudeen Hamidan, an executive of the NDC, cautioned all party agents not to sign pink sheets until the completion of voting on May 23. The NDC claimed to have discovered some pink sheets that were already signed, despite voting still being underway at the time.
In a Facebook post on May 25, Mr Mahama emphasized the importance of credible elections, stating that they rely not only on the EC's recruited officials but also on the collaboration with agents and representatives of political parties.
“To the Electoral Commission, you are once again reminded that a credible election depends as much on the persons you recruit and appoint as presiding and other officers as it depends on the collaboration with the agents and representatives of the political parties. Many of the infractions observed should not have occurred. Our monitoring teams that ensured the early detection of these infractions will be looking forward to engaging further to ensure that these issues are definitely dealt with and corrective measures are taken ahead of any other election,” he stated.
In the by-election, Ernest Yaw Anim of the NPP emerged victorious with 15,264 votes, defeating Kwasi Amankwaa of the NDC and two independent candidates, both named Kwaku Duah.
Kwasi Amankwaa of the NDC secured 3,723 votes, while Kwaku Duah (1) received 2,478 votes, and the other Kwaku Duah managed to secure only 62 votes.
The by-election was held following the passing of the MP for Kumawu, Philip Basoah.
