Dr. Kingsley Nyarko
The Ashanti Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced its intention to pursue legal action against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Kingsley Nyarko.
The MP is alleged to have offered what the party insists was a bribe to Electoral Commission (EC) officials during the Ejisu by-election on April 30, 2024.
The NDC's Ashanti Regional Secretary, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, issued a statement expressing concern over the reported incident, which went viral on social media and was widely reported by the media.
The MP denies he intended to compromise the officials or the process in a later interview.
However, the NDC says it will pursue the matter through appropriate channels, including engagement with the Special Prosecutor and the Privileges Committee of Parliament.
"Following widespread reports of this incident, the EC has announced the withdrawal of the implicated officers from ongoing election duties. However, we demand transparency and accountability from the EC.
"We call upon the EC to disclose the names and polling stations where these officers were deployed, as we suspect a hasty attempt to conceal the truth of the actual polling stations involved and to evade responsibility," 3news.com quoted the NDC statement as saying.
The statement continued, "It has come to our attention that the individual seen in the video is the Kwadaso Member of Parliament, Kingsley Nyarko. The NDC finds Mr. Nyarko's alleged actions dishonorable and unacceptable.
"We are committed to pursuing this matter rigorously through appropriate channels, including engagement with the Special Prosecutor and the Privileges Committee of the Parliament of Ghana," it added.
Meanwhile, the EC has responded to the said incident, which it confirmed occurred at the Fumesua Pentecost Church polling station.
The MP is captured placing an envelope on the table occupied by the presiding officer and the ballot issuer of the polling station.
In a statement released on April 30, 2024, and signed by Samuel Tettey, the Deputy Chairman of Operations, the Electoral Commission said it has taken notice of the video and has removed the two temporary staff, pending an investigation.
In a follow-up statement, the EC said it had referred the matter to the police for criminal investigation.
AM/SARA
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