Akatsi North NDC group alleges poll fraud

A group of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Akatsi North constituency of the Volta region, Concerned Youth of Akatsi North, has accused the District Chief Executive, Mr James Gunu, and the constituency party executives of perpetrating electoral fraud in the recently held parliamentary primaries.

According to the youth, the DCE and the party executives connived to, among other things, delete the names of over 2,000 members of the party from the electoral register that was used for the November 21 parliamentary primaries.

The group, again, accused the DCE of indulging in multiple voting and accused the director of elections of the constituency of helping the DCE and the constituency executives to engage in the illegal act.

This came to light when hundreds of them took to the streets of Ave Havi, Ave Afiadenyigba, and Ave Dakpa to demonstrate against the DCE and the party executives.

The youth later presented a petition to Dr Stephen Torkpo, one of the failed parliamentary aspirants, imploring him to contest the Akatsi North parliamentary seat as an independent parliamentary candidate.

In response to the youth, Dr Stephen Torkpo, said he has petitioned the party structure to look into the processes that led to his defeat in the primaries. He, however, assured the youth that he will respond to their call on him to contest as an independent candidate at the appropriate time.

Three people contested the Akatsi North parliamentary primaries. They are the incumbent Member of Parliament Mr Peter Notsu-Kotoe, Mr Donas Agumenu Senanu and a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Stephen Torkpo. The incumbent emerged victorious.

Attempts to reach the DCE for his side of the story proved futile.

Below is the petition that was presented to Dr Stephen Torkpo by the youth:

PETITION TO DR STEPHEN TORKPO, NDC ASPIRING PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER 21, 2015 NDC POLLS

We the concerned youth of Akatsi North constituency would like to express our displeasure at certain developments that occurred at recent NDC parliamentary primaries. Sir, having taken time to examine and re-examine developments that took place before, during and after the election, we could not help but get convinced that there was gross misconduct on the part of some so-called officials, the District Chief Executive, and some EC officials which culminated in the so-called defeat they claim you suffered.

Sir, we the concerned youths, would like to first of all express our unflinching support to you and would further like to state the following:

• We want the NDC to organise a rerun of the 21st November, 2015 polls in the constituency

• We would further like to state that, should that fail, we would like you to stand as an independent candidate and we would support you

• Should the NDC party fail to look into the petition you have submitted to them and order a rerun or you fail to run as an independent candidate, we the concerned youth would not have anything to do with the party in 2016 general election.

We hope this our short but strong suggestions would meet your consideration or you do not in the future present yourself to be voted for again.

Long live Akatsi North

Long Live Regional NDC

Long live our great party

Long Live our Party

Long Live Hon. Dr. Stephen Torkpo
Thanks

…..signed……
Dzoboku Emmanuel Edwin
(Convener)

Dzapkasu Patrick
(Organiser)