Boycott By-election - Central Region NDC

The Central Regional Branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the party to boycott the forthcoming Amenfi West constituency by-election owing to the blatant abuse of incumbency by the New Patriotic party (NPP) government to win the Gomoa East by-election held last Tuesday.

A statement issued in Cape Coast and signed by the Regional Secretary, Mr Light Koomson, described as “shameful” the massive fraud and unbridled violence unleashed on NDC activists by NPP supporters during the election. It said,” Considering how the scale of malpractices by the NPP progress from one by-election to another, after it had been pilot-tested at Bimbilla, we have no doubt in our minds that at Amenfi West, the malpractice machinery will reach its zenith, after which it will receive further polishing and embellishment for the 2004 elections.”

The statement said it finds it very ironical that at a time when the Vice-President’s Office is seriously engaged in the fight against indiscipline in the society, the menace was given an official blessing by the ruling party on the Election Day.

The statement said before the election, the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, used huge state resources to hold durbars in the constituency, ostensibly to campaign and introduce the NPP candidate. It said NPP activists, on certain occasions, disrupted rallies with loud speakers announcing the arrival of the Vice-President in the same communities.

In most cases, the statement said, the announcement turned out to be untrue but nevertheless disrupted NDC rallies. It said the strategy was exploitatively used on the Election Day. The statement alleged that trucks full of electric wires, bulbs and transformers, exercise books and pens were sent to strongholds of the NDC and voters in queues were dispersed by the chief’s gong-gong beaters to suspend voting and offload the trucks. It gave the registration numbers of the trucks which were used as GV 2846 D, which went to Awomberew, and GR 9810 A, which was dispatched to Gomoa Lome.

The statement thanked Dr K.K. Manfo, Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, and personnel of the Ghana Police Service for saving the lives of Mr Ken Dzirasah, 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, Mr Terkpetey, all NDC Members of Parliament, and Mr Baba Jamal, Deputy General Secretary of the party.