Death threats don't scare me -Afari Gyan

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari - Gyan, has disclosed that even though over the years, he has been receiving death threats, he is not afraid because "God protects me and my family."

A former Political Science Lecturer, Dr. Afari-Gyan, made this disclosure in an interview on the Peace 104.3 FM breakfast show last Friday.

He made this comment when asked whether he and other leading members of the EC had been receiving threats. The questioner referred to threats on the life of the EC's Director of Elections, Mr. Kofi Arhin.

Dr. Afari-Gyan, who as Chairman of the EC, has conducted elections in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008, said "over the years, I have been receiving threats like 'we will wipe out you and your family', 'we will kill you ... ' In all this, I am not afraid, I know that God protects me and my family."

Voting took place in the Tain constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region on Friday, amidst the decision of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to boycott the elections. Majority of the party's polling agents were absent from the polling stations. Many of its -supporters were also absent but around 1330hrs on Friday, a gong gong was beaten urging people to go and vote.

In another development, a leading member of the NPP, Mr. B. J. da Rocha, in an interview on Joy 99.7 FM on Friday afternoon, urged the party to "withdraw the court cases the party had initiated against the declaration of results. This, I believe, will enhance Ghana's democratic credentials.

Even though I am an exofficio member of the party's National Executive Council (NEC), this court issue had not come before us nevertheless, I believe that the party should withdraw these cases."

Mr. da Rocha, who is also a member of the party's Council of Elders, said he agreed with a suggestion by President John Kufuor that the party's court cases should be terminated.