Deputy General Secretary of NDC Mustapha Gbande Deputy General Secretary of NDC Mustapha Gbande
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is accusing the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of vote buying in the ongoing byelection in Kumawu in the Ashanti Region.
Speaking to the co-host of the Asaase Breakfast Show, Benjamin-Offei-Addo, on Tuesday (23 May), the deputy general secretary of the NDC, Mustapha Gbande, said despite the development, the umbrella family will pull a surprise in the poll.
“They were in government when their voter turnout was 13,000 against 11,000 for an independent candidate,” Gbande said. “We cannot be talking about numbers, but we are going to say that the people of Kumawu will shock President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government.”
“Whereas we are camping on goodwill, they on the other side are engaged in vote buying and the opulence sharing of state resources to buy votes,” he alleged.
NPP optimistic
For his part, the national youth organiser of the NPP, Salam Mustapha, said the governing party is confident of retaining the seat in today’s byelection.
“I’ve been to so many byelections and the sentiments are always the same. The developmental projects that we’re doing in Kumawu has nothing to do with the byelection,” Mustapha said.
He added: “We’re not being over-confident even despite the projects that are ongoing. I’m a politician and I know how the grounds are, that’s why I’m certain that we’ll win this election and we want a big margin.”
Four candidates – Ernest Yaw Anim of the NPP, Kwasi Amankwaa of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwaku Duah, (independent) and another Kwaku Duah, also an independent candidate – are vying for the seat in the stronghold of the governing party.
The parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of the incumbent MP, Philip Basoah, on 1 March at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Kumawu byelection: NDC accuses NPP of vote buying
