The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, has criticized an independent candidate in the Ejisu by-election, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, for his recent claims.
Chairman Wontumi contends that Aduomi's allegations — that the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, is colluding with Electoral Commission (EC) officials to rig the by-election in favor of the NPP candidate, Kwabena Boateng — are unfounded and should not be taken seriously by the public.
The NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman suggested that Aduomi, knowing his slim chances of winning the election, has resorted to fabricating lies to garner public sympathy.
In an interview with Adom FM, and monitored by GhanaWeb, Chairman Wontumi refuted the accusations that EC officials are being swayed by government appointees to manipulate the election results.
"Aduomi knows very well that he will lose the elections so he has resorted to lies. Is the Chief of Staff [Frema Opare] an EC official? No. She has no idea about what is happening at the EC office, so what exactly is he trying to imply? Those accusations are lies and should be disregarded,” he said.
This statement follows Aduomi's pledge to oppose any government efforts to influence the highly competitive by-election.
What to know about the Ejisu by-election
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that six candidates are eligible to compete in the Ejisu by-election which is ongoing currently (April 30, 2024).
The by-election, organized by the EC, aims to select a parliamentary representative for the Ejisu Constituency after the passing of the incumbent, John Kumah, on March 7, 2024, who also served as the deputy finance minister.
Leading the candidates is Kwabena Boateng, the NPP's parliamentary nominee, who has secured the second position on the ballot. Former MP Ing. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, now an independent candidate, is fourth on the ballot, while Beatrice Boakye, representing the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), is third.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) is represented by Esther Osei, who is first on the ballot. Independent candidates Gabriel Agyemang Joseph and Joseph Attakora are fifth and sixth, respectively.
Notably, the largest opposition party, the NDC, has not presented a candidate for the by-election.
Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, a former three-term NPP Member of Parliament, now running independently, is anticipated to challenge his previous party significantly.
Watch the video below:
Kwabena Aduomi knows very well that he'll lose the election - Chairman Wontumi#DwasoNsem
— Adom 106.3 FM (@Adom1063fm) April 29, 2024
Brassier Don Jazzy Thomas Partey Kwadwo Sheldon John Mahama Ejisu Asantehene Yagbonwura Gonja Shatta The NDC Black Stars Davido pic.twitter.com/YAMSchYbZV
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