The Director of Elections and IT at the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has likened the recent super delegates conference of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to a conflict more intense than the Russia invasion of Ukraine.
This comparison comes as a response to the widespread violence that marred the elections in various regions of the country.
In a tweet, Dr. Boamah stated ” “NPP super delegates elections worse than Russia-Ukraine war”.
Former President John Dramani Mahama also weighed in on the matter, urging responsible and concerned Ghanaians to denounce the acts of aggression.
Former President Mahama voiced his astonishment at the escalation of violence within an internal competition. He connected this disturbing trend to the legacy of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Particularly, he recalled the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence and the tragic election-related fatalities of eight Ghanaians in 2020.
Through a series of tweets following the ruling party’s polling to select five candidates out of ten aspirants for the upcoming November Presidential Primary, the 2024 flagbearer of the NDC underscored his concern.
The polling on August 26th was marred by attacks on opponents. For instance, in the North East Region, a polling station agent of Alan Kyerematen, Ali Zakaria, sustained injuries from an attack, resulting in swollen eyes.
Furthermore, an agent representing Ken Agyapong in the Upper West Region allegedly had to flee the voting center due to threats, provoking the ire of the Assin Central lawmaker.
These incidents prompted Mr. Mahama to call for condemnation, as the electoral process should have taken place peacefully.
He lamented that violence has become the norm within the NPP, and emphasized the importance of denouncing such aggression, especially within an internal contest among members of the same party.
The NPP is set to choose its 2024 flagbearer from candidates including Dr. Bawumia, Mr. Kyerematen, Mr. Agyapong, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Boakye Agyarko or Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The selected candidate will face off against John Dramani Mahama in the upcoming elections.