Tensions have flared in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency after allegations of misconduct during the special voting exercise on December 2. The controversy centers on incumbent Member of Parliament Lydia Alhassan, who doubles as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate. She was seen distributing food packs to voters at the Legon Police Station, one of the designated special voting centres.
With assistance from her team, Alhassan personally handed out food to voters in queues, a gesture that has drawn sharp criticism from her main opponent, John Dumelo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate. Dumelo condemned the act as a breach of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) regulations, calling it both illegal and unethical.
“This undermines the fairness of the electoral process,” Dumelo stated emphatically. “Sharing food with people who haven’t yet voted is a blatant disregard for EC rules. If we wanted to, we could engage in the same acts, and on an even larger scale, but we choose to respect the law.”
Dumelo expressed frustration over what he perceived as a violation of voter integrity, questioning the rationale behind distributing food to individuals in the queue.
“What kind of behavior is this? Why would they share food with people yet to vote? Do they think we lack the resources to do the same or worse? We can, but we won’t stoop to such levels. Let’s respect the rules and the process,” he added.
While the incident has cast a shadow over the exercise, Dumelo maintained his confidence in securing victory in the upcoming December 7 general elections. He expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the special voting process, describing it as smooth and peaceful.
“I remain optimistic. The people of Ayawaso West Wuogon are ready for change, and I believe the results will reflect their desire for progress,” he stated.
The special voting exercise serves as a precursor to the main elections and is crucial for ensuring that essential service workers, such as security personnel and election officials, can participate in the democratic process. However, incidents like this have reignited discussions about the need for stricter enforcement of electoral laws to maintain transparency and fairness.
The Electoral Commission has yet to comment on the allegations, leaving voters and political observers eagerly awaiting their response to an incident that could set a significant precedent for electoral conduct in Ghana.
