Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Freddie Blay, has criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for chasing additional parliamentary seats despite winning absolute majority in the House.
Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Joy FM, Mr Blay described the NDC’s legal pursuit of disputed constituencies as unnecessary and a threat to national stability.
“I’m surprised that NDC has won 187 seats and is still chasing after two or three more,” he lamented.
He questioned the logic behind the NDC’s insistence on contesting more seats, warning that the rejection of Electoral Commission (EC) rulings and court decisions could destabilize the country.
“If justice is denied, can you imagine the chaos this country will run into?… If we’ve all voted, counted, and signed the pink sheets, and someone with a gun forces a declaration, chaos will ensue,” Mr Blay cautioned.
His comments come in the wake of a contentious re-collation exercise conducted at the Greater Accra Regional Office of the EC on December 21. The exercise saw four parliamentary seats, initially declared for the NDC, reassigned to the NPP.
The affected constituencies were Obuasi East, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, and Techiman South. NPP’s Patrick Boakye-Yiadom reclaimed Obuasi East from Samuel Aboagye, while Charles Forson won back Tema Central from Ebi Bright.
Additionally, Techiman South was re-declared for NPP’s Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah after initially being awarded to Christopher Beyere Baasongti, and Okaikwei Central went to Dr. Patrick Boamah, reversing an earlier win by Baba Sadiq of the NDC.
Meanwhile, Nsawam Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, and Ahafo Ano North – previously incomplete – were declared for the NPP’s Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Eric Nana Agyeman-Prempeh, and Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah, respectively.
The fate of two constituencies, Ablekuma North and Dome Kwabenya, remains unresolved.
In Ablekuma North, NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn was declared the winner without results from 62 polling stations. The NPP’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, a former MP, is contesting the outcome.
For Dome Kwabenya, Elikplim Akurugu of the NDC was declared victorious over NPP’s Mike Oquaye Jnr, sparking further contestation.
With the current numbers, the NDC holds 181 seats in the 9th Parliament, alongside four independent MPs, but the party is determined to secure even greater dominance.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
