George Opare Addo, the National Youth Organiser for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has hinted that the NDC will probably pull a surprise and win the by-election in Kumawu.
According to Mr. Addo, the NDC’s diligent preparation for the by-election will help the party win.
“There will be a surprise in Kumawu and there will be a new MP of the constituency belonging to the National Democratic Congress (NDC)….Yesterday, the young men of Kumawu were shouting that if not for the by-elections, the NPP would not have come to the constituency, and so they will vote against the NPP for treating them badly.”
George Opare Addo
The Youth Organiser said the election will be based on “how this government has treated people when it comes to development, and the people are going to treat them based on that and vote accordingly.”
“Yesterday, they bussed people from all parts of the Ashanti Region and these people were given stipends. And yesterday, you could count about 200 Land Cruisers in town in an attempt to influence the vote tomorrow.”
George Opare Addo
He also refuted claims that the NDC is supporting a defection from the NPP named Kwaku Duah, in an effort to split the vote in favor of the NDC.
“Kwaku Duah is not an NDC member and the only NDC person in the race is Kwesi Amankwah, and he has been working in the constituency for years. He is a known person and we are hoping that he will win the seat for the party.”
George Opare Addo
Parties Pledge To Focus On Ballots And Avoid Conflict
Both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana’s two main political parties, have vowed to play their respective parts in maintaining calm before, during, and after the Kumawu by-election slated for Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
The promise was given following a pre-election conference between the heads of the competing political parties and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. George Akuffo Dampare.
Mustapha Abdul Salam, the National Youth Organiser for the New Patriotic Party, said outside the meeting and reiterated that the party’s only goal is to keep the Kumawu Parliamentary seat while, abstaining from violence.
“We don’t go into elections preparing for war, we go into it to win votes and that is the mindset to which we came here. We are coming for ballots and not bullets. Almost everyone is overwhelmed by our campaign and that is because we appreciate the electoral dynamics and appreciate the people of Kumawu. I can assure you that the NPP will not do anything untoward to break the peace in the community nor create violence or tension.”
Abdul Salam
On the other side, the National Democratic Congress pledged to use its own resources to assist the police in carrying out their obligations during the election.
According to Joseph Yammin, the National Organiser for the NDC, the IGP promised the parties that the notorious Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence would not happen again in the future election.
“I personally asked whether there will be any joint military police operations in this election and he (the IGP) said no, adding that they will do so if the police are overwhelmed. And per the security architecture of the country, they may invite the military but as it stands now, the police service has no plans for such. I also asked whether there will be any deployment of national security operatives because we don’t want to witness what happened at Ayawaso West Wuogon.”
Joseph Yammin
Joseph Yammin also acknowledged that the Inspector General of Police’s explanation was persuasive but noted that the party would have to wait until today to learn whether or not they would actually follow through on their assurance.
Following the passing of the sitting Member of Parliament, Mr. Philip Basoah, a by-election will be held to fill the Kumawu parliamentary seat.
They are Kwasi Amankwaa of the NDC, Ernest Yaw Anim of the NPP, and two independents with the names Kwaku Duah.
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