The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is concerned about the rise of independent candidates among its members in certain seats around the nation.
Stephen Ntim, the party’s national chairman, has said that the party will go on a reconciliation exercise across the country to get all failed and unhappy members on board ahead of the December 7 general election.
“The NPP as a political party is dissatisfied with these concerns concerning independent candidates. Following this election, we, the national executives, will conduct a reconciliation exercise to get everyone on board.”
Kwabena Aduomi, who broke away from the NPP to re-contest the election as an Independent Candidate had alleged that the governing party was plotting victory with intimidating tactics to win back the late John Kumah’s seat.
But addressing a crowd at Ejisu on Sunday, President Akufo-Addo expressed indifference towards Aduomi’s departure from the party, urging voters to dismiss his claims of electoral manipulation.
He further questioned the fairness of Aduomi’s rigging allegations given his prior victories under the NPP banner.
“In 2008, when he defeated the incumbent MP, who was even a Cabinet Minister, did the NPP rig the elections for him? So why does he now allege that we will rig the elections just because he has been defeated by someone else? Is this fair?” he asked.
The President also raised concerns about hidden influences on the independent candidate’s campaign, implying the interference of undisclosed entities aiming to wrestle the seat from the NPP.
“We oppose any independent candidate whose background is unknown to us. We’re uncertain if influential figures are influencing their decisions. We refuse to accept this. It’s not something we’ll tolerate.”
Tuesday’s by-elections, the third in nearly a year, was triggered after incumbent MP, John Ampontuah Kumah died after battling a brief illness.
