NPP suffering from post SC verdict trauma – Kakra Essamuah

A communications team member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kakra Essamuah, says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not recovered from its electoral defeat after the Supreme Court dismissed its election petition challenging the 2012 elections.

According to him, the party’s call for the resignation of the Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, is an attestation that it [NPP] is suffering from post verdict trauma.

Kakra Essamuah was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on Monday.

The NPP as part of its contributions to the call for electoral reforms wants Dr. Afari-Gyan to resign his position.

The party has said Dr. Afari-Gyan’s stay in office casts a slur on the integrity of the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of the 2016 general elections.

But Kakra Essumuah said NPP’s sudden change of attitude towards Dr. Afari-Gyan smacks of hypocrisy and double standards.

He could not fathom why the NPP did not question the integrity of the EC Chairman when it won both the 2000 and 2004 elections he [Afari-Gyan] presided over.

The NDC man noted that the NPP’s "infantile" call exposes its ignorance of the constitutional provision which guarantees the EC boss’ tenure of office.

He explained that Dr. Afari-Gyan’s office has the status of a Court of Appeals Judge and thus cannot be forced to resign until he turns 70 or voluntarily decides to leave office.

Kakra Essamuah said the EC Chairman should be celebrated for conducting several successful elections in the country.

He maintained that Dr. Afari-Gyan’s credibility and independent mindedness in the discharge of his duty is unparalleled.

"Human as we are, we are all fallible and Afari-Gyan is no exception. Let he without sin cast the first stone," he retorted.

Kakra Essamuah urged the NPP to wake up from their slumber and prepare for the 'battle' ahead.