Election Director of Techiman South for the National Democratic Congress, Abdul-Hameeb Zakaria has accused the New Patriotic Party Parliamentary Candidate and Deputy Minister, Martin Adjei Mensah-Korsah of using his position to intimidate and manipulate the District Electoral Commissioner to enable them rig the December Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in the Constituency.
He claimed that the Mensah-Korsah influenced the recent transfer and appointments of staff by the Commission, according to him, the ruling party felt insecure with a northerner at the helm of affairs of the Commission in the District.
For him, the EC has replaced and or transferred anyone suspected to have soft feelings for the NDC, with active members of the New Patriotic.
He enumerated the District Director of the Commission, Returning Officers, Trainers etc as persons known within the rank and file of the governing party.
‘For instance, Mr. Gyamkpana who was transferred from Yapei Kusagu to Techiman South as the Municipal Election Director to replace Wahid Sadique is today working in Kadjeji. While Sampson Ofori Gyamfi who was originally penciled down to head the Atebubu election division has rather assumed work in Techiman South as Municipal Director of elections.
Further, the longest serving Returning Officer, Bukari Mumuni was replaced with Nana Gyamena Frimpa, a known party executive of the governing New Patriotic Party. Efa Godwin, a bossom friend of Martin Korsah is now a deputy Returning Officer of the Municipality, while Kyei Kumi Joseph is the official trainer of the Commission.
Zakaria disclosed this on Tuesday on Akina FM while discussing how Martin Mensah-Korsah was trying hard to destroy democracy in the area.
“I believe that EC is playing the game of cat and mouse with people of Techiman South. We have been suspecting EC for a very long time and what they did recently has proven our suspicion,” Zakaria said.
According to Zakaria, Mensah-Korsah and the New Patriotic Party have since sensing electoral defeat, rejected any official from the Electoral Commission to the area.
He said, Instead, the Commission is acting on the strict instructions of the New Patriotic Party. ‘The Electoral Commission has shown that they are in cahoots with the ruling party to subvert the electoral fortunes of the NDC.
For Zakaria, the New Patriotic Party is only doing this in avoidance of the eminent defeat that awaits them.
“The NDC surrendered power to the NPP, and the NPP has done very bad in governing Ghana in the last four years, they are now afraid of losing elections, that is why they are manipulating the EC.
“The EC is no more independent; it is being manipulated by the government of the day and this is unfortunate for our democracy that some of us fought for’’.
He explained that Ghana is bigger than any individual and political party, saying that the changes at the District Electoral Office on tribal lines is unhealthy for the budding democracy of the country.
Zakaria said Techiman South is a fragile Constituency and urged EC not to do anything contrary to the will of the people, saying that it will lead to the constituency splitting.
“I am advising Martin Mensah-Korsah and the EC to know that they cannot toyed with the political will of about 130 thousand Ghanaians.
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