Lawyer and former NDC MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, says the party’s promise to Ghanaians to “do things differently” must begin with how it handles its own internal affairs.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, a member of the NDC’s Ayawaso East Investigative Committee warned that failure to properly deal with issues such as vote buying and inducement in party primaries could erode public confidence.
“The electorate gave NDC the power to govern this country on the promise that we will do things differently,” he said.
“That difference… should extend to our internal operations, internal matters in the party.”
He argued that if the party downplays issues surrounding the Ayawaso East primary, it could erode public trust.
“So if the party… release matters of this nature… it will sap the confidence that people who give us the mandate… on the promise of doing things differently.”
His comments follow the setting up of the investigative committee to examine claims that aspirants offered inducements, including television sets and cash, to delegates during the primary held on Saturday, February 7.
Mr Fusseini said the committee’s findings were clear. “We came to the conclusion, an unalloyed and firm conclusion, that there was widespread illegal activity. I mean, the voter buying and inducement.”
He stressed that the misconduct was not attributable to a single individual. “Vote buying and inducement in the Ayawaso… and it was not limited to one candidate.”
He disclosed that the committee recommended the party could annul the results of the election. When host Evans Mensah asked if that recommendation was included, he responded: “Yeah.”
However, he said the committee also warned the party about the serious legal and practical barriers involved.
He explained that the elections were conducted under the supervision of the Electoral Commission and the results had already been certified.
“The elections were conducted and supervised by the Electoral Commission. The results were certified by the Electoral Commission as being credible.”
He raised what he called the key legal question: “Can a Political Party overturn the verdict of the Electoral Commission when they did not conduct the election?”
He acknowledged the public pressure for annulment but insisted the party must act responsibly. “People have a feeling… but the question is whether it will have a legal basis to stand up.”
Inusah Fuseini described what happened in Ayawaso East as “acts of impunity,” saying they violated several laws and internal party standards. He cited breaches of “the political party act, representation of people’s act CI 127… the criminal code… our Constitution… our code of ethics… our values.”
He warned against responding in a way that could lead to further wrongdoing. “Do you deal with impunity by acting with impunity? Do you deal with a wrong by acting wrongly?”
He also noted timing challenges, pointing out that the committee submitted its report “yesterday at 4 pm” and that “today… is the final day to present a candidate.”
Despite these hurdles, he said the committee still advised the party that annulment was possible, but only with careful consideration of the legal and procedural implications.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com