In a last ditch attempt by ruling party ahead of a Talensi by-elections, Communications Minister Omane Boamah says on the basis of a text message intercepted, the NPP wants to rig Tuesday’s elections.
He says a woman mistakenly called and later sent a text message to the Upper East regional minister James Zuugah Tiigah in which the NPP plans are detailed.
He says the NPP plans to smear black ink in the hair of some of its supporters and use it to create spoilt ballot papers in NDC strongholds at Tuesday's vote in the Talensi constituency.
It is not clear how the plot will amount to an advantage to the NPP or a disadvantage to the NDC.
The text message sent supposedly meant for an NPP person asked some party supporters to get rid of some black ink in their possession.
"James, please once again Chairman Wontumi [Ashanti regional NPP chairman] and honorable Blay say I should tell you to tell your men not to use the black cream on Tuesday and that they should get rid of the ones in their possession. Please keep your distance for now".
But the following morning, the minister claims the lady sent another text message explaining that the earlier message was not meant for him but rather a brother called James.
According to the minister, the "matter is worth investigating" because it is "criminal" attempt to destroy Ghana's democracy.
He wants the public in Talensi to vote for the party in which the whistle-blower comes from instead of adopting a skeptical posture towards the evidence.
The Minister is yet to hand over the phone number to the police but he it was in the interest of Ghana's democracy to make the matter public.
The NPP Vice-Chairman, Freddie Blay called the alleged plan “ridiculous” and senseless.
“I cannot make head or tail. I think it’s all made up,” he told Joy News Monday.
He explained that an election where voters have to go through biometric verification makes it impossible for anyone to have more than one ballot paper.
He wants the Communications minister sitting in Accra to be “ignored” because he has no clue of what is happening on the ground in Talensi in the Upper East region.
He challenged the Communications minister to leave Accra and come over to Talensi to “supervise the elections”.
Freddie Blay maintained that he is “convinced that the minister fabricated [the allegations] in Accra to muddy the waters”.
The Talensi by-election has been hyped as a “dress rehearsal” for the 2016 general elections.
The governing party is eager to trump up a win for the party as evidence that it still has considerable advantage.
The opposition NPP are also eager to point to a victory as a sign of an impending political tsunami in December next year.
The seat became vacant after the incumbent NPP MP Robert Nachinab Doameng Mosore was elevated to Tongo chief and by the 1992 constitution can no longer hold political office.
Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline|Edwin Appiah|[email protected]
Ejisu by-election: Aduomi warns NPP against voter intimidation
High Court orders implicated four NDA officials to present defence
Let’s all be matured, patriotic to have a peaceful election this year – Dampare ...
Mahama's administration saw thievery that knew no bounds; stole from market wome...
GRA/SML deal: Always read the stories behind the headlines or you'd look stupid ...
GRA/SML Contract: It takes some 'wild' boldness for a president to make this dec...
Elisu By-election: "If you call yourself a man, boo Chairman Wontumi again" — Bo...
Fuel tanker driver escapes with his life after tanker goes up in flames near Suh...
Uniform change: ‘Blue and white are brighter colours’ — Kwasi Kwarteng explains ...
MoE not changing all public basic school uniforms but only newly built ones — Kw...
