"I would have been honored and rewarded if I had assisted NDC." "Carlos Ahenkorah"

Tema West MP Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah has defended his contentious conduct during the 2021 Speaker of Parliament election, in which he unlawfully interfered with the voting process by stealing a ballot box.

Ahenkorah addressed the consequences from the incident in an open interview with UTV, saying that his allegiance to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was not appropriately recognized, according to MyNewsGH.

Shortly after the 2020 general elections, when the Speaker's race was already under way, the incident occurred. Making headlines throughout the world, Ahenkorah's spectacular act of grabbing the vote box was widely denounced as an unprecedented interference in Ghana's parliamentary process.

Prof. Mike Oquaye of the NPP and Alban Bagbin of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were running in a close race for the Speaker's seat at the time. In the end, Bagbin prevailed.

In his defense, Ahenkorah said he was frustrated by what he called a lack of acknowledgment for his steadfast support of the NPP. He said that his actions were in the best interests of the NPP and that his party allegiance had gone unacknowledged.

His actions might have been seen more favorably if he had sided with the NDC, he further implied. “I would have received praise and rewards if I had acted in the NDC’s favor.”

"Despite the controversial nature of his actions, his dedication to the NPP went unnoticed," Ahenkorah stated.