Afari Gyan Cautioned

A leading member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has cautioned the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) to be mindful of his utterances and to desist from describing those he disagrees with in unsavoury terms. Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, Spokesperson for 2012 Vice Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), believes it will be more prudent for Mr Afari Gyan to stick to addressing whatever reservations he might have against those agitating for an overturn of the electoral body�s decision to go ahead with the creation of 45 new constituencies without resorting to name calling as the nation gears up for the upcoming general elections. The EC boss recently labeled those who have consistently expressed disapproval with the intention to create additional constituencies with barely three months to go for the December polls as "rabble rousers". On Ghana Television�s (GTV) �Election Platform� programme last Thursday, Dr. Afari-Gyan stated emphatically that he will never kowtow to pressure groups� demands in undertaking what he described as the Commission�s constitutional mandate despite the avalanche of criticism, and advised all who feel aggrieved with any decision by the EC to seek redress in court. But speaking to the issue on Metro TV�s Good Morning Ghana, Y.B as he is affectionately called, noted that it was �appalling� for the commissioner to have used such "intemperate� language at a time when the country's political temperature is high. �Don�t come out and say because I (Afari Gyan) is being threatened, then you are a rabble rouser�who is a rabble rouser, me? CDD, IMANI, they are rabble rousers for saying we should sit back and review your actions?� he quizzed in a voice tinged with incredulity. Clearly unhappy with the EC Boss� choice of words, the NPP stalwart pointed out that the EC was set up by the constitution for Ghanaians so everyone has a stake in ensuring that the right thing is done. ��it is never wrong for the citizenry to question the fundamental operationalization of the institutions bequeathed to us,� he added. He nonetheless appealed to the security services to ensure that the alleged �death threats� on Afari Gyan�s life are investigated thoroughly and the culprits made to face the full rigours of the law.