The Electoral Commission has been petitioned by a resident of Gomoa West Municipal to take action against a candidate in Tuesday’s district level election for violating the electoral rules.
Samuel Ametepe Assipounou who is contesting as an assemblyman in Wawase electoral area has been accused of seeking support of a political party in his campaign.
The candidate has been going round and mounting platforms with known executives of the National Democratic Congress in the region including a former Member of Parliament.
This, the petitioner Eric Sekyi Dairus Showeth said, “were in a clear violation of the rules of the District Assembly Elections for which sanction are well spelt out”.
“That in the circumstances, I pray that the appropriate sanction will be applied against the candidature of the said Samuel Ametepe Assipounou,” the petitioner prayed.
Meanwhile, information available to 3news.com suggests that the Returning Officer for the Wawase electoral area, Yaa Ewusiwa Forson, has been suspended, which is said to be linked to the activities of the perceived NDC candidate in the election.
Some electorate are surprised by the attitude of the NDC executives in the region after the party strongly opposed and campaign for NO in the suspended referendum seeking to making district level elections partisan.
Below is the full petition
IN THE MATTER OF DISTRICT ASSEMBLY ELECTION (WAWASE ELECTORAL AREA) AGONA WEST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
TO: THE ELECTORAL OFFICER ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF GHANA AGONA WEST MUNICPAL ASSEMBLY AGONA SWEDRU
THE PETITION OF ERIC SEKYI DAIRUS SHOWETH
1. That I am the Petitioner herein.
2. That I am the registered voter of the Wawase Electoral Area of the Agona West Municipal Assembly.
3. That on the 8th day of December, 2019, the Electoral Commission through the Returning officer of the Electoral Area mounted a platform for the four aspiring members of the Assembly election.
4. That the event took place at the community grounds, Wawase at 2pm.
5. That at the commencement of the program appeared Rachael Adwoa Appoh (Hon), the recent past Member of Parliament for National Democratic Congress (NDC) of the Gomoa Central Constituency.
6. That the said former member of Parliament was in the company of one Natima, the Women Organiser of the NDC, Nana Duodu, the constituency Treasure of the NDC, Charles Agbavitor the constituency organizer of the NDC all of Agona West Constituency.
7. That the presence of the named personalities was in support of one of the candidates Samuel Ametepe Assipounou which was a clear violation of the rules.
8. That the said Samuel Ametepe Assipounou is an aspiring member vying for the Assembly member slot in the Electoral Area.
9. That on the day of the program, the Hon. member was given the platform to speak for and on behalf A Samuel Ametepe Assipounou with an open applause by the said constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
10.That the speech of the Honourable member drew condemnation, but presented to others that the National Democratic Congress has a preferred candidate in the said aspirant.
11.That the acts of the afore-mentioned personalities from NDC were in a clear violation of the rules of the District Assembly Elections for which sanction are well spelt out.
12.That the happenings of that day was a clear endorsement, a canvas of votes and a campaign for the candidate, Samuel Ametepe Assipounou who is seeking election to a District Assembly.
13.That in the circumstances, I pray that the appropriate sanction will be applied against the candidature of the said Samuel Ametepe Assipounou.
I 4. That I humble pray
DATE AT AGONA SWEDRU THIS 12 DAY OF DECEMBER, 2019
THE ELECTORAL OFFICER ELECTORAL COMIVIISSION OF GHANA AGONA WEST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY AGONA SWEDRU
Cc: Samuel Ametepe Assipounou Aspiring Member, Wawase
The Registrar, Swedru District Court
Agona Swedru
NDC constituency Executives
Agona Swedru
The Divisional Police Commander
Agona Swedru
Source: 3news.com | Ghana