Some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the Asawase Constituency of the Ashanti Region, have disagreed with the Electoral Commission’s decision to use the Palace of the Chief of Asokore Mampong, Nana Boakye-Ansah Debrah, as a collation centre for constituency’s results on Election Day.
The movement led by the incumbent MP, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, the NDC members say the location is not in the interest of the party and as such, should be relocated.
Hon. Muntaka at a briefing said, the proposed centre is located on the outskirts of the city and thus, poses a threat to the security of the ballot papers.
He indicated that, vehicular traffic situation leading to the location could create several inconveniences and delays.
Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak said the NDC will mass up its supporters to the centre on the day of the election if the decision by the Electoral Commission is not averted.
“The place is obscured; it is at the outskirt of the city. It is surrounded by bushes that could easily be used as a hideout. There are a lot of uncompleted houses there that could be used as hideouts.
“On Election Day, we are going to have all the electoral areas struggling to go to head towards Asokore Mampong with all the traffic and the challenge that goes with it, the risk of carrying all the ballot boxes along this long distance. It is the reason why collation centres have always been around Asawase because the traffic in the evening is towards Asokore Mampong,” he said.
Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak added that, the NDC will not tolerate any mischievous act during the election process.
He said the supporters will not be threatened by allegations of discharge of explosives in the constituency on Election Day.
The Asawase Constituency has a population of 52,884 people according to the 2010 population census. The constituency had its first elections in 2004 and it was won by NDC’s Dr. Jibril Adamu Mohammed but unfortunately, he died the following year. In a bye-election held in April 2005, NDC’s Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak won the seat with a total of 31,017 votes.
Since then, incumbent Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has retained the Asawase Constituency Parliamentary seat and is seeking re-election in this year’s elections.
Howbeit, in the 2016 elections, Former President Mahama lost in the constituency with a total vote of 33,108 while sitting President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, won with a total of 39,363 votes.
In this year’s polls, the parliamentary candidate of the NPP, Alidu Seidu is very optimistic of snatching the seat from the incumbent MP.
