EC gives Ayariga provisional certificate for APC

The Electoral Commission of Ghana has provided a provisional certificate to Hassan Ayariga to operate his newly formed political party – the All People’s Congress (APC).

Ayariga defected from the People’s National Convention (PNC) when he lost in his bid to lead the party in the 2016 elections.

The provisional certificate was issued to Ayariga by a Deputy Commissioner of the EC, Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo. APC would be issued with a final certificate after thirty days.

Speaking to the media after receiving his certificate, Ayariga called on Ghanaians who are fed up with the current leadership to join his party.

“It is not that Ghana has failed because some bad people are leading us. Ghana has failed because the good ones are quiet and that is why we are suffering. And this time around, we are telling the good ones, wherever you are, come on board.

“If you are tired of voting, come on board…let’s make sure everybody gets a platform and the opportunity to serve mother Ghana,” he said.

Ayariga added “when people begin to believe that there is no more hope, they are losing confidence in the system, then we need a change. And this is what we need in this country.”

Reports have it that Ayariga, who lost the PNC bid to Dr Edward Mahama, already has over 150 offices across Ghana.

Breaking away

A Gynaecologist-cum-politician, Dr Mahama beat Ayariga to become the PNC presidential candidate.

Mahama, who led the party in the 1996 elections through to the 2008 polls before being succeeded by Hassan Ayariga in the 2012 elections, polled 492 votes as against Ayariga’s 426 votes.

The defeat did not go down well with Ayariga who then broke ranks with the Nkrumahist grouping.