The National Women’s Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kate Gyamfua, has indicated that the party will not sit idly by while the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) attempts to bulldoze its way through the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of the 2024 general elections.
She maintains that Ghana’s elections are governed by laws, and only those laws will be allowed to operate without bowing to external pressures.
Speaking to the media, Ms. Gyamfua stated that EC had proven to be credible, while the electoral processes had demonstrated robustness, with inherent corrective measures. She emphasized that only these inherent measures should be allowed to address any problems identified in the electoral system, and not an attempt by a group to influence the election process to suit its whims and caprices.
She added that the NPP would use all legitimate means to prevent any attempts to pressure the EC into using methods not explicitly prescribed by law to interfere with the election processes. Specifically, she noted that the party would resist, with all legal force, any attempt to introduce a third party into the management of the electoral register.
Protection of women
Ms. Gyamfua also criticized the unwarranted personal attacks on the EC Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, stating that such attacks hindered women from breaking the glass ceiling. She argued that when women in positions of power become targets for baseless attacks, particularly based on their gender, it impedes the country’s progress in promoting women to leadership roles.
She, therefore, called on those perpetrating these unnecessary attacks to cease immediately. Ms. Gyamfua further stated that, in an era of affirmative action, critics should focus on the work of the EC, if they had concerns, rather than targeting the Chairperson. She defended the EC Chairperson and the Commission, asserting that they had so far discharged their duties creditably. The NPP women’s wing, she said, would boldly defend the integrity and character of Mrs. Jean Mensa against any attempt to undermine her.
Allegations and response
The NDC has alleged irregularities, discrepancies and unauthorized manipulation of the provisional voter register, calling for an independent forensic audit. The NDC claims to have uncovered evidence of 243,540 illegal transfers, 3,957 deleted names, as well as over 15,000 unidentified voter transfer paths in the provisional register—allegations the party is yet to substantiate with evidence.
The EC has challenged the NDC to provide details and proof of its claims, but the party has refused, continuing instead to demand an audit of the register.
In response, the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, has questioned why the NDC has not submitted detailed information of its claims to the EC, despite several requests from the Commission.
Addressing a news conference, Mr. Frimpong noted that the NDC has a reputation for making unsubstantiated allegations. He reminded Ghanaians of how, following the close of polls in the 2020 general elections, the NDC, through various media engagements, declared former President Mahama the winner and even warned the EC not to change the “verdict of the people.” However, when the NDC had its day in court, its current National Chairman could not provide the Supreme Court with the total votes the party received or the total valid votes cast in the election.
The NPP maintains that the NDC’s agitations are needless, deceptive mischievous, and a deliberate attempt to create tension in the country, knowing full well that it is likely to lose the 2024 general elections.
