Acting General Secretary and National Organiser of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has stated that the party’s suspicion and mistrust of the Electoral Commission (EC) over the years has been vindicated by the recent happenings at the commission.
According to him, the party’s mistrust of the EC has so much deepened that it will take a lot of improvements, transparency and accountability to win back the trust of the NPP.
Speaking at the Volta Regional delegates’ conference of the party in Ho, Mr. Boadu pointed out that the recent allegations and counter allegations between the Chairperson of the EC on one hand and her two deputies on the other, have further entrenched the party’s mistrust of the commission.
The delegates’ conference brought together party members from all the 26 constituencies in the region, MMDCEs, government appointees and (regional) party executives, including Chairperson Esther Edjeani and Secretary Joseph Homenya. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resource, John Peter Amewu, also graced the occasion.
Mr. Boadu revealed that it is the mistrust and suspicions of the EC that motivated the NPP to be vigilant in the December 2016 elections. For him, but for the vigilance of the NPP and its supporters nationwide, the party’s victory would not have been a reality.
The acting General Secretary stressed that “from the story that is being told now – one commissioner accusing the other – if we had sat down without taking our destiny into our own hands [in 2016], we would have been laughing at the wrong side of our mouths now.”
Mr. Boadu cautioned members of the NPP across the country to remain resolute and supportive of Nana Akufo-Addo’s government, irrespective of the happenings at the EC and machinations of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He further cautioned them to be mindful of their public utterances, so as not to cast a slur on the NPP government.
He commended the party members in the region for their vigorous and outstanding efforts towards the party’s victory, saying, “you are the ones that brought us the victory.”
He explained that not only did the NPP in the region increase its votes by over 23,000, but also managed to reduce NDC’s ballots by over 130,000. “Your contribution towards the NPP in the 2016 elections is historic and will be surely rewarded,” he assured.
National Youth Organizer, Sammy Awuku, implored government appointees across the country to ensure that NPP supporters who are Ghanaians like any other citizen, are given priority in all available opportunities. “NPP supporters are also Ghanaians, give them jobs,” he charged.
He said just as the erstwhile NDC administration gave its followers jobs and other opportunities, supporters of the NPP should also have a similar treat.
He said, “To our government appointees, please when you’re throwing the good news, let some touch our party people first. Our DCEs, don’t be worried when they say you’re satisfying your party people. Let me tell you, when in 2010, NDC carried their supporters to South Africa (FIFA World Cup), we didn’t complain, when they carried them to Equatorial Guinea and Brazil, we didn’t complain because to us, they are Ghanaians.”
He continued, “When you give an NPP man job, you have given a Ghanaian a job.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)