Frederic Fredua Anto
Some aggrieved members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) are not satisfied with the way in which the party’s polling station elections were held in the Ashanti Region.
Frederic Fredua Anto, NPP Vice National Chairman, who supervised the primaries in the Ashanti Region, disclosed that he had received countless petitions from some of the party’s members.
According to him, virtually all the aggrieved party members in 47 constituencies in the region, complained bitterly about unfairness in their constituencies during the elections.
In this regard, Mr Anto, who is a former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, stated that the petitioners have therefore called on the party leadership to re-run the polls in their areas to ensure peace.
The NPP stalwart cited Asante Mampong, Effiduase, Offinso and Kwadaso, among others, as some of the areas that the party members have raised objections.
“I think in Asante Mampong alone about 12 electoral areas have protested and at Asante Effiduase we have about five electoral areas, who are all not satisfied with the conduct of the polls,” he said on Nhyira FM.
He added that “And I think Kwadaso and Offinso, all in the Ashanti Region, the party people have rejected the entire polling station elections and they have implored the party leadership to hold fresh polls for them again.”
Mr Anto gave assurance that the complaints of all the petitioners would be thoroughly examined by a committee, adding that if it emerges that indeed the petitioners have a genuine case then fresh polls would be held in those affected areas.
Despite the numerous petitions, he stated that in general the polls in the Ashanti Regional NPP have been very successful this year.
Making reference to Manhyia North Constituency, Mr Anto said “the last time that we had elections there was trouble all over Manhyia North but this year I think only two electoral areas in that area have petitioned us so I can say the polls were successful in general.”
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi