Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, MP for Juaboso
The Juaboso branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has hit back at MP Kwabena Mintah Akandoh over his claims that the Electoral Commission (EC) is stacking the deck in favour of the ruling party ahead of the December 2024 elections.
In a fiery press release, the NPP dismissed Akandoh’s allegations as “desperate propaganda” from a lawmaker whose “12 years of non-performance” have left him fearing defeat at the polls.
Akandoh’s Claims
Addressing the media in Juaboso, Akandoh accused the EC of violating electoral laws by recruiting NPP-affiliated polling officers and replacing the district electoral officer with someone allegedly linked to EC Deputy Chairperson Dr. Bossman Asare.
“They’re using the EC as an extension of the NPP’s campaign machinery,” Akandoh charged, further alleging irregularities in the publication of presiding officers’ lists. According to him, photographs of 159 polling officers are missing, and phone numbers on the list are either duplicated or absent.
Akandoh also petitioned the EC, demanding immediate corrective action and the publication of full details of polling officials as mandated by Constitutional Instrument 127.
NPP’s Response
The NPP, however, called Akandoh’s accusations “unfounded,” stating that the current Juaboso district EC director was not involved in the recruitment process. The party revealed that the outgoing EC director handled recruitment, making Akandoh’s claims of partisan appointments baseless.
“Akandoh’s allegations are nothing but an attempt to frustrate the EC and tarnish the image of the NPP and the electoral process,” the NPP said.
They also pointed out that the same EC officials Akandoh is accusing had worked closely with his team during the voter registration exercise, even assisting Akandoh’s supporters to verify their names and register individuals under contentious circumstances.
The NPP alleged Akandoh’s accusations were a diversion tactic from an audio recording circulating of NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah. The recording, they claimed, highlights Akandoh’s failure to account for funds received for constituency development.
“Rather than addressing his failures, Akandoh is fabricating baseless accusations to mislead his constituents,” the party charged.
With tensions high ahead of the December elections, the battle between Akandoh and the Juaboso NPP signals a contentious campaign. While Akandoh doubles down on his accusations against the EC, the NPP stands firm in their defence, accusing the MP of clutching at straws to save his political career.
As the dust settles, Juaboso voters will be left to decide whether Akandoh’s claims hold water—or if they are, as the NPP insists, “desperate lies.”
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