The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of plotting to rig Tuesday’s by-election at Talensi.
An NDC communicator, Solomon Nkansah, alleged that NPP big wigs, including First Vice Chairman, Freddie Blay, former Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo, and National Youth Organiser, Sammy Awuku, had arranged with the Upper East regional head of the Electoral Commission (EC), James Arthur Yeboah, to rig the election in the opposition party’s favour.
This account was corroborated by the Minister for Communication, Dr Edward Omane-Boamah, who stated on Accra-based Joy FM that a text message meant for the EC boss to confirm the rigging in favour of the NPP was wrongly sent to the Upper East regional Minister James Zugah Tiigah.
He said the message, which had come from the phone number 233248497192 read: “James, please, once again Chairman Wontumi and Hon. Blay says I should tell you to tell your men not to use the black cream on Tuesday and that they should get rid of the ones in their possession. Please, just keep your distance for now."
According to Dr Omane-Boamah, another text was subsequently sent, saying: "Sorry, sir, yesterday, I called you sir, it was a wrong number, my brother is also called James and I have your number in my contact book with the same name, sorry sir."
In an interview with Accra-based Kasapa FM, however, the EC regional boss denied plotting with the NPP to rig the election.
Mr Yeboah said: “I’m a Christian and I have conscience that will not allow me to take bribe while I do my work. I’m committed to ensuring that this bye-election is held in transparency so that whoever losses will know that he has not been cheated.
“Such comments create unnecessary tension in the country, as we advance in our democratic development we should try and move away from such utterances that may mar our elections”.
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