The Member of Parliament for Kwadaso Constituency, Dr Kingsley Nyarko, says he had no malicious intentions when he offered money to two EC officials during the Ejisu by-election.

According to him, his action was in good faith contrary to reports that the money was meant to bribe or influence the officials.

In a statement issued on Thursday, May 2 and sighted by JoyNews, Dr Nyarko described the development and subsequent media reportage as unfortunate.

Giving a detailed account of what transpired at the Pentecost Church Polling Station, the MP explained that, "I interacted with the officers to find out if the election process at the polling station was coming up well and the numbers that had registered at that time.

"The officers indicated that the process was smooth but at that time their food had not been delivered."

According to him, he then asked them "if they would be okay if I offered them lunch. They accepted it and I put an envelope on the table in the full glare of all.

"I then left, granted an interview with Adom TV and continued to the other polling stations.

"I must state unequivocally, and in all honesty that, the gesture shown by me to the electoral officers was with good intent, and not to bribe nor influence them to act contrary to their conscience, conviction and character."

The comment by the MP comes on the back of previous ones made by the EC after a video went viral on social media of an NPP official giving money to some two EC officials.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the electoral management body said, the individual in the video approached the table of the officials and inquired about their meal status.

“He then placed the envelope on the table and asked them to use the contents of the envelope for their lunch, following which he walked away,” the statement added.

Subsequently, the Electoral Commission (EC) said it has held preliminary discussions with the Police Service and asked the security agency to start criminal investigations into the issue.

Touching on this, Prof Kingsley Nyarko said he will "gladly submit myself to any process to establish the truth of what transpired at the polling station on that day."

He used the opportunity to also apologize to the Electoral Commission and the citizenry for his action.

"The Electoral Commission, over the years has built an image of credibility, integrity, honesty and discipline, and I will not do anything untoward to erode such virtues.

"I have endeavored, over the years, to build an image of integrity, credibility, honesty, kindness and discipline and I will not do anything deliberately to diminish it. In fact, those who know me will attest to that. Although, I acted in good faith, it seems my good intention and action have been misconstrued to mean I have bribed or influenced the electoral officers. That was not the case. I did not bribe anybody.

"As unfortunate as the incident is, I would like to apologize to the commission and the citizenry, and assure all and sundry that such an act will never happen again," he stressed.