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During the special voting on Monday, December 2, in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency of the Greater Accra Region, voting proceeded without incident until Lydia Alhassan, the incumbent MP for the New Patriotic Party, began giving out food packages to voters waiting in line.
Additionally, the meal bags were given to several Electoral Commission officials and security guards overseeing the operation.
As Lydia Alhassan led the sharing, the episode infuriated party executives and actor John Dumelo, the opposition National Democratic Congress’ parliamentary candidate for the constituency.
Such events typically happen during both national and internal party elections, despite the fact that any kind of election-related inducement is prohibited in Ghana.
John Dumelo denounced the sharing of food.
“Why are you sharing food with people in the queue? Why are you doing that? Does it mean we cannot share food too? We can also share the same, but let’s respect the rules of the Electoral Commission. Don’t share anything with people in the queue who have not voted yet. And you’re sharing food and we don’t even know what’s in the thing, and you’re sharing to people who have not voted yet. What kind of stupidity is this” he questioned.
Why? Is it their opinion that we are incapable? We are capable of doing considerably worse. He cautioned, “They shouldn’t even try us” he added.
According to sources, the NDC and NPP had breakfast together in the Ayawaso Central Constituency, specifically with Electoral Commission officials who were in charge of overseeing the exercise.
In 14 of the 16 regions, hundreds of security guards, emergency service workers, and representatives of the Electoral Commission are participating in the special voting process.
Due to a vote paper defect that forced the Electoral Commission to order a recall and reprint ballots for the two regions, Eastern and Western, the other two regions will have their special voting on Thursday, December 5.
Aside from a few instances of food sharing and missing names, the process has gone well overall with a large turnout.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
