Edem Agbana
Deputy National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edem Agbana has taken Deputy Chairperson of the EC, Dr. Bossman Asare to the cleaners over his recent comment about the NDC.
Edem is demanding an apology from Dr Asare for saying the NDC’s reaction to some decisions of the EC will have dire consequences on Ghana’s democracy if unchecked.
“I think if there is anyone who is becoming a threat or a potential threat to the democracy we are practising in our country, then I will rather say that it is the posture of the NDC. Since this new Commission took over we have noticed some of the things that have transpired. Before the Ayawaso West by-election, allegations were rife that, the register was bloated and we also noticed pictures of ballot papers,” Dr Bossman Asare told Citi News.
His comments come after the NDC kicked against the decison of the Commission to undertake it’s Limited Voter Registration exercise only at their district offices.
NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has since criticised the EC boss, Jean Mensah describing her as autocratic.
But reacting to the issue, the seeming frustrated Deputy EC boss stated the commission had seen “a particular pattern” of the NDC on the matter.
“…I don’t see why the NDC will turn around and accuse the Chairperson that her actions were a threat to democracy. This is the only Commission that is committed to Ghana’s democracy because we are operating within the law”, Dr Bossman noted.
But speaking in an interview with Kwame Minkah on Radio XYZ 93.1, Edem Agbana lashed out at the deputy EC Boss and described his comment as “loose talk” and “irresponsible” and added he “lacks the emotional intelligence to be at the electoral commission.”
“How can you tell the largest opposition party in the country that it is a threat to democracy when it only raised genuine concerns?” Agbana asked.
Although Dr Asare was his lecturer back at the University of Ghana, Edem said he (Dr Asare) ought to apologise to Ghanaians because his comment was unguided and a threat to the progress of the country.
“How does our concerns translate into a threat to Ghana’s democracy? I’m highly disappointed in him. He is rather a threat to our democracy because he’s not acting like a referee. He simply doesn’t understand his job. He should resign. He sees his appointment as an extension of the NPP,” Agbana added.
He went on to say the NDC will continue to raise concerns over decisions the EC makes once they do not agree.
“We’ll not sit down and watch them [EC] play with our democracy,” Edem Agbana warned and assured the NDC will continue to use legal means to deal with issues that go against the interest of Ghanaians.
