EC plans to rig Asawase polls, Muntaka claims

Politics of Tuesday December 1, 2020

Source: Starr FM

2020-12-01

Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak, has accused the Electoral Commission of planning to manipulate the December 7 elections to favor his opponent Alidu Seidu.

His accusation stems from a decision by the Election Commission to use the residence of the head of Asokore Mampong as a collection center for the constituency.

At a news conference Monday, minority chief Whip said the processes leading up to the establishment of the site chosen for the collection are a total departure from how it was done in the past.

He explained that over the years, a collection site was selected through stakeholder consultation with the EC and law enforcement agencies.

“This year, we saw a very worrying phenomenon where the MCE, which is also a PNP candidate, together with the Electoral Commission called the Security agencies to call us and inform us [NDC] that the collation center will be the house of Asokore Mampong Hene ”, affirmed the deputy of Asawase.

In the parliamentarian’s opinion, the absence of consultations with interested parties to decide the place of collection and the actions of the security agencies involved raises many suspicions and gives credence to the rumors of intentional electoral fraud.

“There was a meeting to deliberate on the subject. Of the six parties present, four voted against the idea of ​​using the Chief’s palace as a collation center and only two voted in favor, ”said the deputy, adding that the security officers present after the vote to decide the Instead they requested a week for further deliberations.

However, the decision, they went on to say later, remains unchanged, much to their chagrin and great surprise. Mr. Muntaka warned the EC against using the intended venue for the collection of results.

He claimed that if the advice is not taken, it will mobilize thousands of party supporters and match them with the venue on the due day to be used as what he called a “human shield” to protect the will of the people.

WHY NDC IS AGAINST THE CHIEF’S PALACE

The party believes that the palace is located on the outskirts of the constituency.

They cite, among other things, the dense nature of the area and the existence of myriad unfinished buildings surrounding the palace and argue that they could serve as hideouts on Election Day for anyone with nefarious intentions.

Another problem raised by the MP is a traffic jam on some major streets within the constituency at dusk. Motorists coming from the city, heading to the side of the constituency where Asokore Mampong is located, have to endure the stalemate.

This, the MP suggests, could result in the delay in obtaining ballot boxes from Akwatia Line, New Zango, Asawase East & West, Aboabo and areas adjacent to the palace of Chief Asokore Mampong, the planned collation center.

VOTING TRENDS IN ASOKORE MAMPONG

The Asokore Mampong electoral area has always voted for the ruling PNP in both the presidential and parliamentary elections since 2004, when the Asawase electoral district was created.