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National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for the Juaboso Constituency in the Western Region, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has reignited calls for the arrest of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) running mate, for allegedly fabricating falsehood about Ghana’s voters’ register.
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According to the young MP, who’s also a Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Electoral Commission’s preliminary report on proposals for a new voters’ register suggested that Dr. Bawumia peddled falsehood which in his view, has the potential to destabilize the nation.
Dr. Bawumia in a presentation delivered in August last year, boldly claimed that Ghana’s electoral roll is flawed with names of minors and over 76,000 Togolese nationals.
He also claimed that other African nationals from Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso are on the roll hence the need for a new one to be compiled before the November polls.
But a committee constituted by the Electoral Commission to collate views on proposals for a new register, analysed the NPP’s claims and somewhat concluded that claims were not credible. Some NDC communicators as a result, called for the arrest of the economist for peddling falsehood.
Although the matter appears to have died down, the NDC MP reignited it on Tuesday, saying Dr. Bawumia’s wild claims caused fear and panic hence the need for him to be arrested to serve as a deterrent to others who peddle falsehood in the name of politics.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News, he expressed shock that the NPP running mate Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, had not been invited by the BNI, saying it sets a bad precedent.
“I find it extremely difficult to understand that up till now, the BNI hasn’t invited Dr. Bawumia for any interrogation. If we do that, we will set a very bad precedent in this country and anybody will get up and talk any how in the name of politics.”
The Juaboso MP insisted that Dr. Bawumia’s comments threatened national security since in his view, it caused fear and panic.
“He caused fear and panic in this country. Everybody was jittery over the comments Dr. Bawumia made. It is a very serious matter. I panicked over it and I know people who also panicked over it.”
Dr. Bawumia should apologize
Mr. Akandoh indicated that he and his party would be willing to let the matter rest if Dr. Bawumia apologizes for misleading the country.
“Indeed if Dr. Bawumia thinks that he erred, that he didn’t have any basis whatsoever for saying that, he must come out and apologize and then lay the matter to rest so that if any politician, if any citizen is talking, he will be very careful about his choice of words in this country.”
The NDC acting out of desperation
But the Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, Anthony Karbo, described the reignited calls for Dr. Bawumia’s arrest as an act of desperation by the ruling party.
“We are not perturbed by that because it appears that to me that this government is utterly desperate and is looking for people to hang these desperation on them.”
According to Mr. Karbo, Dr. Bawumia’s claims about a bloated register has somewhat been confirmed by all the parties who believe the register needs to be cleaned.
http://ghanapoliticsonline.com
“As we speak,, all the political parties agree that indeed the register is bloated. We are talking about validation or exhibition and the debate has been going on. We all agree; NDC, NPP, CPP.”
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