Akuapem North: MP denies impeding students’ registration

Akuapem North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) George Opare Addo has denied allegations that he ordered the headmaster of Benkum Senior High School to turn away students who have turned 18 years from registering during the limited voters’ registration exercise.

The Eastern Regional Executives of the NPP had alleged that the MCE and the Eastern Regional Minister, Madam Mavis Ama Frimpong, had directed that students of the Benkum SHS be transported back to school when they went to some centres to register.

But Mr George Opare Addo, speaking to Class News, said the allegations were untrue.

“It is not true. The Regional Minister does not even have the headmaster’s number...There is no iota of truth in that story. I don’t know where the concoction is coming from. It is a desperate act of a dying elephant, so you can understand,” he stated.

“Come into Akuapem North constituency, I have eight secondary schools within the constituency; almost all the eight schools, when you go to Mampong School for the deaf they are registering… So why don’t I go and prevent them? When you go to Akropong, Mount Sinai Secondary School and Okuapeman Senior High School are all there registering.

“When you go to Adukrom, Adukrom Presby[terian] Secondary and then Adukrom Ninfa Secondary [students] are out there registering. Even Larteh, where the students of Benkum are purported to have gone to the centre to register, there is Larteh PFPF, they are out there registering. Have I called any headmaster to stop them? So, why Benkum? Why is Benkum so special?

“When you come to Mamfe, Methodist Girls High School is there; the girls are in town registering. Why haven’t I called the headmistress to withdraw her students? I am a law-abiding citizen; I know what the rules of engagement are.”