NPP supporters in Sunyani demonstrate against EC

Some disgruntled supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Sunyani Municipality, on Tuesday hit the principal street of the Brong-Ahafo Regional capital, to register their protest against the Electoral Commission (EC).

According to the supporters, they had made several appeals to the EC to organise a recount of votes in the Sunyani East constituency parliamentary primaries of the Party, held on Saturday May 13, but to no avail.

They are challenging the outcome of the primary, which elected Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area.

Mr. Ameyaw-Cheremeh polled 378 votes to beat his only contender Mr George Kumi, a former Ambassador, who obtained 377 votes in a keenly contested election.

But the protestors, who wore red armbands, and held placards with inscriptions such as “no Kumi no vote”, “Ameyaw-Cheremeh stole the missing vote”, “EC don’t be bias”, “NPP leadership show concern”, insisted the counting process was rigged.

Led by Mr Samuel Kwame Awuah, Spokesperson of the demonstrators petitioned the Regional Secretariat of the NPP on the issue.

“This protest is to draw the attention of the leadership of the NPP to rise up to its mandate of being democratic pace-setters,” it stated.

Addressing the demonstrators after they had converged at the Oti Yeboah Guest House (formerly Catering Rest House); Mr Kumi advised them to be patient for the Party leadership to determine the matter.

He expressed acknowledgement of their contributions in helping to address the problem, but asked them to avoid tendencies that could narrow the fortunes of the Party in Election 2016.

Mr Kumi entreated his supporters to be law abiding and always follow the Party’s laid-down procedures and structures in addressing all grievances.