Politics

NDC worried over NPP’s election gaffes

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The ruling National Democratic Congress is worried over what it says is the seeming disregard by the New Patriotic Party to religiously follow dictates of election rules. The NPP in the climax of its historic and novel National Delegates Conference on Saturday procalimed Nana Akufo-Addo as winner and had him read his acceptance speech ahead of official declaration of the results by the Electoral Commission. Prior to the speech however, three of the four other contestants for the flagbearership race – Mr. Alan Kyeremanten, Mr. Isaac Osei and Prof. Frimpong Boateng had all conceded defeat and sent their goodwill messages to the eventual winner. But the Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, Richard Quashigah believes the action by the party is unacceptable. Quashigah told Joy News’ on Sunday that the impatience to wait for the Electoral Commissioner to officially declare Nana Akufo-Addo as the winner of the polls before his speech detracts from what was otherwise a very successful election. “Though everybody knew unofficially that Nana Akufo-Addo won the whole contest, yet the NPP did not allow the certified results to be announced which I thought was a minus to the whole process and exercise." Ashaiman According to him, the incident is reminiscent of the 2007 primaries in which Nana Akufo-Addo was again acclaimed as the party’s flag-bearer even though he failed to garner the more than fifty percent votes mandated by the party's own constitution. “These are issues they really need to really look at in the future or else they will create the impression that the NPP have no regards for the laid down rules and procedures as far as election issues are concerned,” he warned. Asked if the NDC will emulate the decentralized process by the NPP which saw over 100,000 delegates vote simultaneously from constituencies across the country to elect the party’s flag-bearer Mr. Quashigha said he personally did not favour that approach, and neither does it mean existing forms are faulty. “It comes across as a novelty but that does not mean it is the best example to abide by. They obviously had a problem of violence and disturbances in the congresses from time-to-time and so they decided to look for another way to avoid a situation like that. “We in the NDC, we do not have that situation at all,” he touted. That notwithstanding, Mr. Quashigah said it is an option worth examining and congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo for his sweet victory. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

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