General News of Thursday, 22 September 2016

Source: 3news.com

EC asked to investigate Mahama for buying votes

File photo File photo

A leading member of pressure group, Occupy Ghana, wants the Electoral Commission to investigate a video that appears to show President Mahama distributing money to potential voters on a campaign tour.

Nana Sarpong Agyemang said the president’s action amounts to “abuse of incumbency” and indulging in “unfair” election practices. Meanwhile, the John Mahama campaign team has mounted a strong defence for the candidate claiming the video that has gone viral was doctored.

Ambassador Dan Abodapui, who is a member of the campaign team, wants the allegation of money sharing ignored because it has never been the practice for the president to carry money on a campaign tour.

He told 3News the video is a mere fabrication to tarnish the image of President Mahama, noting that the president has worked hard enough to win the election without monetary inducement.

“There can be no iota of truth in such claim, such allegations can only be made from desperate souls who want to paint the president black,” he explained. According to him, what was seen been shared was mere leaflets. But Nana Sarpong Agyemang indicated to Kwakye Afreh Nuamah on 3FM’s Midday News on Thursday that the leaflet explanation was moot.

“I don’t think people would be excited being given leaflet,” he doubted Abodakpi’s explanation that is fit to be told to “little kids somewhere”.

He demanded, “If there is a body which can actually look into this, they should, probably the Electoral Commission because I know it is against the electoral laws that you should be giving out money and buying people’s votes.

This thing should actually be looked into…it is only a child who will believe that the president was not giving out money to these market women.”