The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has strongly dismissed accusations of vote buying levelled against the party in the ongoing Kumawu by-election.
Representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) alleged that NPP executives were enticing voters with monetary incentives to secure victory for their candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim.
Responding to the allegations, Mr Ahiagbah said the main opposition party has no evidence to support their claims as his party has not undertaken such unlawful action.
He said the pre-election rumours about party executives distributing money to influence voters were mere hearsay, urging the public to disregard such unfounded information.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), along with two independent candidates, are today, Tuesday, May 23, battling it out for the Kumawu seat.
The candidate for the NDC is Kwasi Amankwaa, Ernest Yaw Anim represents the NPP, while the two independent candidates have the same name as Kwaku Duah.
The by-election, which rarely happens, became necessary following the death of the Kumawu MP Philip Atta Basoah on March 13, 2023.
Exactly four years ago, there was a by-election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency after the demise of Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko, the husband of the incumbent MP Lydia Seyram Alhassan.
The wife, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, representing the NPP, contested the by-election and won the poll by 12, 041 votes representing 68.30%, with the closest contender, Delali Kwasi Brempong, the National Democratic Congress’ candidate polling 5, 341 votes representing 30.52%.
Unfortunately, the contest between the NPP and the NDC resulted in clashes, causing injuries to voters and party executives.
To prevent a recurrence of such incidents during today’s by-election, the Ghana Police Service and the National Peace Council have served a notice to both NDC and NPP to ensure they maintain peace and order throughout the electoral process.