NPP by-election boycott could undermine EC - Lecturer

A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Aggrey Darko has cautioned the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to undermine the Electoral Commission as it is an institution created by the Constitution.

The NPP has decided to boycott the by-elections for Akatsi South and the Buem constituencies which are due next month.

According to the party, there are doubts about the 2012 elections and the conduct of the polls in these two constituencies form part of the party’s concerns.

In an interview with Citi News however, Dr. Aggrey advised that the party to be mindful of the consequences of its decision in the future.

“The party has indicated that they think that some elements within the institution are perhaps condone and connive and NDC functionaries to rig the elections in their favour. That issue is being contested in court but while they even seek redress in court, I don’t think that we should really undermine the very institutions that we have created.”

He added that if there are elements within the institution who are undermining the system, the case which is currently in court will “be able to deal with these things and so some of these elements could be dealt with if indeed the case has any merit at all. But this is a by-election and they think that is not of any serious consequence to their particular strength in Parliament.”

Dr. Darko opined that it would have been the perfect opportunity for the NPP to “go back to the constituents and tell them that you are still a credible party to be given the mandate so we need to be very careful in the decisions that we take because it may have a rippling effect.”