NDC has not rejected Ablekuma Central result - Quaynor-

Accra (Greater Accra) 30 March ?99

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday said it has no intention to protest or contest the result of last Friday's bye-election in Ablekuma Central when it is declared by the Electoral Commission.

"The NDC will abide by the decision of the National Electoral Commission," Mr George Quaynor-Mettle, National Propaganda Secretary of the NDC told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra. The party had reservations about alleged fraud in the March 26 Elections, he said, adding that there were reports of people being brought from Odododiodio constituency to vote for the NPP and other electoral malpractices. The NDC Propaganda Secretary said the party does not reject the overall results of the vote and the refusal of the Greater Accra Regional Organiser, Mr Bismark Agblemenule to sign the declaration form was on technical grounds. He said the NDC had no problems with the conduct of the election.

The Electoral Commission declared the result provisional. Mr Victor Okuley Nortey, New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate won the seat with 15,210 votes as against NDC's Ismail Safianu Bawa's 10,569 vote to place second.

Mr Solomon Buyoga Sulemani, an independent candidate supported by the Reform Movement, came third with 566 votes. Mr Musah Nartey of the People's National Convention (PNC) had 297 votes with Hajia Fati Suraj of the Convention Party polling 254 votes. The by-election was necessitated by the death of Mr Clement Sammy Crabbe, NPP Member of Parliament. Mr Agbemenule on Friday night refused to sign the form declaring the results, saying the party was not happy with the conduct of the voting. Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the NDC, said there were blank sheets and different inks on the sheets. He alleged that a presiding officer at Laterbiokorshie one and three polling stations impeded in the performance of his duties.

A total of 93,994 registered voters were expected to cast their votes but provisional figures from the Electoral Commission indicated that only about 28,000 people voted. Mr David Kanga, Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations and the Public Relations Officer were not available for comment.