- warns against throwing money at polling station elections
The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has directed party stalwarts to stop throwing money around in the name of lessening financial burden on those aspiring to be polling station executives and electoral area coordinators of the ruling party which starts this weekend.
According to the National Chairman, Freddie Blay, those desirous of financially supporting the impending election at the polling stations should do so by channeling the resources through the national secretariat for uniformity, fairness and accountability.
The directive comes after media reports that Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, has reportedly paid nearly GHc2 million for nomination forms for all NPP members aspiring for polling station executives and electoral area coordinators elections in all the 275 constituencies across the country.
The Trade Minister is hopeful of leading the NPP in 2024 as its Presidential candidate and appears ready to do anything.
According to a report by The Chronicle, the Trade and Industry Minister, nicknamed “Alan Cash” paid a whooping sum of GHc1, 931,100 for the 38,622 polling stations as each form cost GHC10. At each polling station, 5 people are reportedly contesting.
It is unclear, if the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also seeking to succeed incumbent President Akufo-Addo, is also at some of these schemes since his side has not yet been heard at least publicly dishing out money.
But aside from Mr Kyeremateng, the party’s Ashanti regional chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako, alias “Chairman Wontumi” is also reported to be funding nomination forms in that region meaning the region is receiving two sponsorships from different sources.
The Regional Chairman is seeking re-election but is facing some still opposition from party members who insist that his chairman has not yielded dividends as the fortunes of the NPP keeps declining with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) increasing its numbers and winning seats lost in the 2016 election.
Although, some hold the view that these sponsorships will lessen financial burdens on the aspirants as well as grassroots leaders, many rather see it as an attempt to buy the aspirants who will be electing a presidential candidate for the ruling party in some time next year for the 2024 general election.
In the case of orphan constituencies Mr Kyerematen, is said to have paid for both the nomination forms and the cost of the passport pictures of the aspiring polling station executives.
But, at an emergency press conference at the NPP headquarters in Accra, late Monday, February 21, Mr Blay advised that any such matters relating to financial support in this process must be channeled through the National Party Secretariat for uniformity, fairness and accountability.
“Further to this, it is also reported that some leading personalities have procured application forms for aspiring polling station executives. The party wish to advise that any such matters relating to financial support in this process must be channeled through the National Party Secretariat for uniformity, fairness and accountability,” Mr Blay said.
