NDC spent GHC1.2 million to retain Sene West constituency seat

Mr Joseph Mackay-Kumah, the defeated NPP parliamentary candidate in the Sene West District of Brong-Ahafo Region is alleging the National Democratic Congress (NDC) spent a whopping amount of GHC1.2 million in the area to retain the constituency seat.

Some senior members of the NDC, including Mr Ofosu Ampofo, Dzifa Ativor, Eric Opoku, Sanja Nanja, Dominic Napare and Collins Dauda invaded the constituency and distributed the money among the electorate in the area.

They also distributed gifts and other packages to the electorate to entice them to vote for Mr Kwame Twumasi Ampofo, the NDC incumbent Member of Parliament and to retain the seat in the just ended elections, he alleged.

Mr Mackay-Kumah, who is the International Development Manager of Media Savvy Solutions, a UK-based media foundation told Journalists at Kwame Danso in a post-election interview that the "NDC bought the conscience of most of the electorate in the area with money and gifts".

Notwithstanding, the NPP Parliamentary candidate who had contested for the constituency seat on two consecutive times but lost, said he was able to close the gab from 6,000 to 1,482 voters, an indication he affirmed that majority of the electorate were further fed-up with the MP.

"with my little resources I was able to secure 8,747 votes, representing 44.34 percent while the incumbent MP obtained, 10,229 votes, a representation of 51.86 percent", he added.

Mr Mackay-Kumah condemned vote buying in Ghana's democratic system, saying the bad practice is the bane for accelerated national development.

He indicated that the NDC had denied Sene West district the needed infrastructure in the past eight years, since there are several community schools which held classes under tree, while most of the public schools in the area had no sanitary facilities.

Mr Mackay-Kumah added that healthcare delivery in the area was also extremely poor due to bad roads, and obsolete medical equipment at the government hospital at Kwam- Danso, the district capital.

He commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for exhibiting what he is describing as a high sense of integrity in the conduct of the general elections.

Mr Mackay-Kumah noted that the neutrality and the impeccable integrity shown by the EC has in the conduct of the general polls in December 7, is not only deepening Ghana's fledgling democracy but has also consolidated the country's democratic gains.

He commended the Coalition to Elect Nana Addo and Bawumia (CENAB), a UK-based advocacy group for its support.

Mr Kumah-Mackay said the success of the elections had given Ghana high marks and recognition in the international community.

He lauded the contributions of all the major players in the conduct of the general elections, especially international and local observers, political parties, security agencies and voters.

Mr Kumah-Mackay stressed that now that the general election is over there is the need for Ghanaians to support a Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo government in national reconstruction.

He is saying politics is meant for development and asked not to allow politicians to buy their conscience with money and gifts.

Mr Kumah observed that the NDC government had failed Ghanaians that was why the electorate voted against it with the NPP wining the elections on wider margin.

He indicated that Atebubu-Kwame-Danso road is very dear to the heart of the people, and appealed to Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo to facilitate speedy construction of the project.

From Kwadwo Peprah, Kwame-Danso