Assemblyman cited for impersonation

Some electorate of Borsontoe Electoral area in the Ho Municipality, have petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) over alleged impersonation by Mr Stanley Nelvis Glate, Assemblyman-elect.

The electorate alleged that Mr Glate provided misleading information, captured in the EC’s notice of poll, that he was a Lecturer at his present employment, Ho Polytechnic.

They said claims by Mr Glate that he has a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Ghana, as his highest educational qualification, was also false and charged the EC to institute an inquiry into the issue.

The petitioners, five in number, said they believed those “false declarations” gave Mr Glate unfair advantage over other contestants in the election and that it important the EC act quickly to protect the sanctity of the electioneering process.

The petition made reference to PNDCL 284 (Representation of the People Law, 1992, Section 28-Ofences Relating to Nomination of Papers and Ballot) and said it is important for the EC to take necessary actions to restore the confidence of the people in the Commission.

When contacted, Mr Glate told the Ghana News Agency that he could not comment on the issue because he has not been given a copy of the petition.

He, however, said it was wrong for the petitioners to single him out and called on the EC to invite all candidates to present their certificates and documents for scrutiny as part of the investigation.

Madam Gloria Boahema Asante, Ho Municipal Director of the EC, said the Commission is investigating the issue and would forward its findings to Accra for action.

Meanwhile, authorities of Ho Polytechnic, where Mr Glate works also refused to comment on the issue.

PNDCL 284 states that “a person who forges, fraudulently defaces, or destroys a nomination paper, or any other document relating to the registration of a voter, or delivers to a returning officer any nomination paper, knowing to be forged; commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both and shall for a period of five years from the date of the expiration of his term of imprisonment be disqualified from being registered as a voter or voting at an election".