NPP to hit streets

...as it alleges 150,000 bloated votes for JM

 

From David Owusu-Antwi

 

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) hits the streets in Kumasi tomorrow in protest against what party leaders allege were fraudulent election results.

 

Addressing a rally of NPP keep-fit clubs in Kumasi yesterday, Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu alleged that the party’s research have so far revealed that over 150,000 votes were added to the votes received by  President John Mahama in the just-ended elections.

The keep-fit exercise saw several members of NPP keep-fit clubs converging at the Main Post Office Adum, Santasi and the Suame roundabouts. Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told party supporters that the party would finalise its research into the anomalies in the presidential results by close of work yesterday.

Yesterday’s keep-fit exercises had been billed as the prelude to Tuesday’s expected ‘massive demonstrations.’

Earlier, the Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr F.F. Anto, had announced to journalists that tomorrow’s ‘mammoth’ demonstration would be preceded by constituency demonstrations, but his Regional Secretary, Mr Samuel Pyne, later explained that “what will happen on Sunday is the usual keep-fit gatherings and not a demonstration.”

 

Since the Electoral Commission declared incumbent President John Dramani Mahama winner of the 2012 elections, having polled 50.70% of popular votes as against just over 47% by his closest contender, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP, the NPP refused to accept the results, claiming that they had been doctored to favour President Mahama.

 

The week began with angry demonstrations by thousands of the party’s followers in Accra even as the party’s leaders announced plans to go to the Supreme Court to try to overturn the result.

 

The Accra demonstrations, concentrated at the Obra Spot in Accra, witnessed scenes of violence and threatened to generate further, forcing the national leadership to call their followers to order.

 

In Kumasi, there have been protest gatherings but nothing of significant magnitude.

 

In a separate development, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has also announced its intention to demonstrate in Accra to pursue the same cause as the NPP in Kumasi.

 

Meanwhile, the public relations officer at the Ashanti Regional Police Command, ASP Mohammed Yusif Tanko, has hinted that the NPP had not properly notified his outfit about the planned demonstrations, but added that every arrangement necessary would be made to ensure that the security and peace of the region would not suffer.

 

He said they would provide the necessary protection as the NPP carried out its planned demonstrations, and advised the leadership of the party to ensure that members go about the protest in a manner that would not lead to destruction to property and harm to

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