A member of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Peter Appiahene, has strongly denied accusations of helping the New Patriotic Party (NPP) secure the first position on the ballot paper for the upcoming general elections.

The allegations, made by Onua TV's Captain Smart, claimed that Dr. Appiahene was present at the EC headquarters during the balloting process and assisted the NPP by providing a special yellow-coloured ball.

In a statement released on Wednesday, September 25, Dr. Appiahene dismissed the claims as entirely baseless and urged Ghanaians to disregard them.

He clarified that he was not in Accra at the time of the balloting but was in Sunyani fulfilling his academic responsibilities at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).

Dr. Appiahene further noted that there is sufficient evidence to prove his presence on campus on the day of the balloting, reaffirming his commitment to his duties as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department.

He called on the public to ignore the misleading information and avoid being swayed by unfounded accusations.

Dr. Appiahene reiterated his dedication to upholding integrity in all his roles, including his position with the EC, and encouraged Ghanaians to focus on the facts rather than the rumors surrounding the ballot process.

“I wish to categorically state that this allegation is completely false and without any evidence. As a matter of fact, I have not been to the EC head office for months. During the period of the balloting, I was in Sunyani, fulfilling my duties as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).”

“There is enough evidence in my university to prove that I was in Sunyani before and during the balloting exercise conducted by the Commission. I challenge Captain Smart to provide any evidence to support his baseless claim, as none exists.”

Dr. Peter Appiahene, a member of the Electoral Commission (EC), was appointed to the electoral management body last year by President Akufo-Addo.

His appointment sparked controversy, particularly from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which argued that his affiliation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) disqualified him from serving on the EC which is expected to be non-partisan.

The largest opposition party expressed concerns about his potential biases, asserting that such affiliations would prevent him from being impartial, a crucial requirement for anyone appointed to the Electoral Commission.