Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Effutu, have called on Neenyi Ghartey Vll, Omanhen of Effutu Traditional Area in the Central Region, to help address some political and election-related matters in the Constituency before they escalate.
They made the call in a petition signed by Mr Abraham Henry Arthur, Effutu NDC constituency secretary, addressed to Neenyi Ghartey and copied to Effutu Tufuhene, the two Asafo companies, the Municipal Chief Executive, the Divisional Police Commander and others including the media.
The petitioners highlighted what they termed, ‘political abuses’ and ‘electoral malpractices’ in Effutu geared towards abusing the December 7 general elections.
They enumerated the pulling down of NDC billboards, interception of information on eight nomination forms of NDC candidates by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and transfer of 3009 votes to the Constituency.
They further stated that “the NDC was particularly interested in how their opponent was able to access details on nomination forms of Dr James Kofi Annan, its parliamentary candidate and a ‘purported independent parliamentary’ candidate,” which should solely be in the custody of the Electoral Commission.
On the transfers, they said the register given to all political parties by the EC in Effutu, indicated that 7,024 transfers were recorded during the recent transfer in the Constituency.
“However diligent examination of the data given to political parties by the EC, revealed a whooping 3,009 additional voters transferred to Effutu voters register,” they stated, adding that this had further confirmed their suspicions of a bloated voters register.
They, therefore, urged the EC to fix all the anomalies in the register to make it fit for the impending elections for peace’s sake.
“If our call for enough is enough, we will be forced to defend ourselves and the interest of the NDC through only legitimate means,” they indicated.
The petitioners appealed to Neenyi Ghartey to quickly intervene and call the Effutu Municipal Chief Executive and the EC officer to order.
“We express confidence in your swift intervention in addressing the aforementioned issues, particularly abuses and electoral malpractices in Effutu, which could bring confusion, heighten tensions and destabilise the peace in the constituency,” they added.
Neenyi Gyeteh Gyankumah I, Adontenhen of Effutu Traditional area who received the petition on behalf of Neenyi Ghartey VII, thanked the petitioners led by Dr Annan and assured that it would be presented to Neenyi Ghartey.
GNA