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General News of Monday, 25 August 2008

Source: Crusading Guide

NPP Top Shot Fires Warning

'Let Us Not Be Complacent, NDC Is Capable of Rigging Even In Opposition' - Dr Kwaku Afriyie

New Patriotic Party (NPP) big shot and former Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, has called on the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party to keep eagle eyes on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to prevent them from rigging the coming elections.

Speaking to The Weekend Crusading Guide at his Minado Guest House location in Kumasi, the NPP guru said that the party should invest more in their weaker constituencies by way of campaigning. He reiterated that the NDC had the capacity to exaggerate result margins through rigging in their strongholds. "The NDC will never think of rigging in Bantama but will rig on it’s own turf and strong holds so we cannot take such weaker constituencies for granted, we do not have to neglect those places; margins make a lot of difference in an election" Dr Kwaku Afriyie who is also a former NPP National Vice Chairman submitted.

Reaching for his research file, The NPP top shot showed The Weekend Crusading GUIDE a copy of the 2004 Presidential Election Results Analysis signed by Mr. ML Arhin, the Research Officer of the Electoral Commission (EC) which indicated that in some of the polling stations in the Western Region where the NDC won, turn-out was over 100%; a clear indication that something had gone wrong there.

Dr Kwaku Afriyie pointed out that he acknowledges that he lost the last election despite the fact that the margin from the EC’s own evidence indicated that there were some problems. The margins in favour of the NDC he said were outrageous and could not have been accurate. The former Minister pointed out from the EC sheet that the total vote caste was 106.6% at Anglican Primary, Anhwiam in the Sefwi-Wiawso District, where. NPP polled 218 with NDC polling 350. CPP polled 8 and PNC, 6, making the total vote caste 615, though the total registered voters, according to the EC sheet, was less than 577.

The former Minister also cited DC Primary, Sui also in the Sefwi-Wiawso District, where the total registered voters were 869 but the total voter turnout ended being 871, 2 more votes than mathematically possible even if the turn-out was 100.2%. Also at DC Primary, Adowoano, the total voter turnout was over 100%, the former minister submitted, showing documentary proof. He threw a challenge to NDC top shots and fanatics who had doubts over what he had said to check with the EC to see the evidence for themselves. Anything any electoral area that recorded above 90% had serious question marks.

After this analysis, the minister appealed to the rank and file of the NPP to keep a close eye on the EC officers, adding that some of them could be tricky because they had their own political leanings. “ The EC officers must be watched, some of these rigging could have only been done with the complicity of officers within the constituency” he submitted

Touching on the nomination of Mahamadu Bawumia as the running mate of the NPP, Dr Kwaku Afriyie said that he could make a huge impact on the regional and local level. He said his youthfulness would attract young voters, adding that he would definitely appeal to northerners and Muslims. He appealed to his (Bawumia) wife to use her youthful charm to attract young and vibrant people to the party.

“The foremost disposition to adopt in politics is to have the ability to stomach nonsense; he should be able to take senseless and foolish talk from some members of the opposition,” The NPP top shot advised Bawumia.