Wednesday, December 24, 2008

NDC protests against special voting in Ashanti

Hundreds of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) besieged the precincts of the Electoral Commission protesting against Tuesday's special voting in the Ashanti Region.

The protesters said they would continue to protest until the EC nullifies the results in that region.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Daniel Ohene Agyekum claimed the voting process in the region was characterized by widespread irregularities.

He said minors and other unqualified persons were allowed to vote. The special voting is meant for security officers and other persons who will be performing special duties on Election Day. But the NDC Chairman said persons other than such people voted, adding that there were astronomical increases in the numbers compared to the number that voted in the last early voting on December 2.

He gave indications that the party would reject the results of the special voting in the region The presidential candidate of the party, Prof. Atta Mills, also called for an investigation into the matter.

But that appears not to be enough for the supporters of the party who said they would continue to demonstrate until the EC nullifies the results.

Speaking the media during the demonstration, a leading member of the NDC, Mr. Victor Smith swore if the NPP does anything funny on December 28, the country will not be peaceful.

He claimed an NPP guru had told him that the NPP had 650, 000 supporters who did not vote on December 7. That number, he said was as a result of multiple voting engaged in by the party.

He believes the NPP is bent on making such 'ghost voters' vote during the run-off. Mr. Smith cited the NPP Constituency Chairman Ejura Sekyere whom he claims was exposed by his own son for possessing voter ID cards.

"Akufo-Addo and the NPP are determined to rig the elections and if they try it…" he paused, as a protester standing behind him completed the sentence, "We will burn this country."

The Constituency Deputy Organiser of East Ayawaso of the NDC, Sumaila Fuseini said just as former President Rawlings handed over power Kufuor peacefully, President Kufuor should hand over.

He asked why centres that registerd about voters in the last special voting exercise should record 2,000 this time.The visibly enraged protester claimed some people were given three ballot papers each to vote.

If you experience political persecution, you should have driven a vehicle with NPP colours through the ridge hospital road.NDC supporters wielding sticks and leaves, sung, danced and booed every vehicle that bore anything NPP.

They tried to enter premises of the EC and were restrained by riot police.While the scene was interesting to behold managers of the country's electoral process and peace should be worried.

joyfm

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