The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay has condemned the recent reported pockets of incidents and chaos that had marred the sale of polling station executive nomination application formsacross various constituencies.
According to him, there had been videos on various social media platforms where people had been denied access to purchase the application forms which was quite disturbing.
“The party has been monitoring the process keenly since it started. Notwithstanding all the adequate preparations made to ensure a smooth process in the election, there has been reports of pockets of incidents in some of the constituencies, “Mr Blay bemoaned.
The party has decided to extend the sale of the polling station executive application forms from Monday to yesterday.
Some of the Constituencies he mentioned included Kade Constituency in the Eastern Region, Ningo-Prampram Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, andManhyia North Constituency in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Blay condemned the act during an emergency press conference at the NPP Headquarters in Accra on Monday and emphasised that the party had made available adequate forms for all prospective and eligible members who would like to contest.
He directed all polling stations to make the forms available for prospective and eligible party members and assured them that the party would take steps to ensure that the issue was addressed.
Mr Blay said with immediate effect the party had dispatched officers to the reported areas of disturbances for fact-finding and investigation and where necessary disciplinary actions would be applied, adding that “we have taken notice of the procurement of application forms for some aspiring polling station executives by personalities of the party at no cost however I will caution you to desist from such acts and rather follow the laid down procedures for uniformity.
“It is also reported that some leading personalities have procured application forms for some aspiring polling station executives and party wishes to advise that any such matters relating to financial support and assistance in this process must be channelled through the National Party Secretariat for uniformity, fairness, transparency and accountability,” he said.
Mr Blay directed all Polling Station and Electoral Area Election Committee to duly comply with the directive and allow all prospective and eligible aspirants to apply.
The process of the polling station executive elections commenced with the opening of nomination last week Saturday and was supposed to have closed on Monday. Per an earlier release by the General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu, vetting of aspirants was scheduled to begin on Tuesday and end on Thursday, with the conduct of the polling station elections slated for Friday and ending on Saturday.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
