[ 2014-09-15 ]

Confusion Rocks Akwatia NDC Elections
Three persons have been arrested by the Akwatia
police in the Eastern Region for allegedly
snatching ballot boxes during the National
Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency and polling
station elections.

The police had to be called in following tension
after the polls.

According to sources, 'The party's constituency
executives' elections in Akwatia on Saturday were
characterized b tension, misunderstanding,
indiscipline, under the watch of their member of
Parliament, Baba Jamal Ahmed, who doubles as the
Deputy Minister of Local Government.'

The fracas was allegedly between Baba Jamal and
some disgruntled executives and their allies who
had all become anti- Baba Jamal after they claimed
he had failed to give them recognition since he
became their MP.

According to the report, 'even though Baba Jamal's
supposed candidates won three of the executive
positions, a member of the party fought his way
through the electoral offices and the police and
took out some printed ballot papers… and tore
them in pieces.'

He attempted to abscond after the incident but was
arrested by the police.

It caused the police to intervene in the mayhem,
which nearly caused bloodshed, to stop the
Election Commission officials from counting the
ballot papers when a stoutly-built man, popularly
called 'machoman' stepped in to stop the process.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that during the counting of
the ballot papers of two candidates vying for the
Constituency Organiser position, the Demkyembour
District Chief Executive, Ofori Abrakwa, stood up
from his chair at the high table and went to where
the electoral officials were doing the counting
and told one of them in the Ewe language that he
[the DCE] didn't like how they were counting the
papers - because things did not going well for his
favourite candidate, Ernest Kwame Ankrah, who lost
his position to Samuel Agbeko, popularly known
Taller.

The incident turned into a fracas between the
followers of the DCE and the police, which made
over 300 police personnel to be deployed there and
managed to disperse the gathering with tear gas.

The process was put on hold for about one hour
before the police were able to put the mayhem
under control, and the EC officials were allowed
by the Police Commander to continue the counting
process.

This paper learned that before the congress, two
factions were formed. However, the favourites of
Baba Jamal were ousted after the whole process,
whereby the other group, led by the incumbent
Youth Organiser, David, maintained their
positions.

DCE's Reaction



When contacted
, the DCE, Ofori Abrakwa, debunked the
allegations. He told the paper that as the
counting process was ongoing the suspect observed
that some ballots had been mingled with his
candidate's and that made the suspect to go to the
counting table to stop the process.

According to him, he had no hands in that
incident, adding that once the guy is a party
member, his outfit would see to it that the party
executives went and withdrew the case and settle
it at home.

All attempts to speak with the Akwatia Police
Commander proved futile as he failed to pick the
several telephone calls.

Source - Daily Guide

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