NPP will not tolerate stolen votes in 2016 – Edmund Kyei

Asokwa constituency communications director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the modus operandi adopted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just passed Talensi by-election of the Upper East region was a sign of desperation and attempt to “steal the mandate of the people”.

Mr. Edmund Kyei speaking exclusively to this reporter on Thursday was emphatic that the NPP were not going to countenance such “inferior tactics” and would adopt legal means to defend themselves in 2016.

The Talensi by-election was held on Tuesday which saw the governing NDC recapturing the seat it lost in the 2012 elections to the NPP.

The election witnessed some level of violence and a former minister of State, Rashid Bawa, told journalists during the election that the first vice chairman of the NPP, Freddie Blay together with the national treasurer had been attacked.

He accused the Azoka Boys, a vigilante group affiliated to the NDC of masterminding the attacks.

In the estimation of Mr. Kyei, the over fifty seven per cent of voters who voted against the NDC as declared by the Electoral Commission, shows Ghanaians have rejected the Mahama administration.

He added: “…If the Talensi bye-election was a presidential race, what it means is that President Mahama and the NDC would have failed to obtain the 50% + 1 votes required by a presidential candidate to seal victory”.

The communications director, however, cited the increasing unemployment rate among the youth and the sharp decline of the local currency, cedi as factors that would drive the populace to vote massively for the NPP in 2016.

“The increasing despondency among the youth and the general hardship in the country are clear indications that Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP will be elected into office in 2016,” he retorted.

According to Mr Kyei, job creation and strengthening of the cedi, which would have a positive impact on businesses, would be on top of the priority list of the next NPP administration.