Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Haruna Mohammed, has denied perception of any form of bribery at the recently concluded NPP orphan constituency elections, which was held on December 2nd to 3rd, with 321 candidates vying for parliamentary seats across 111 constituencies where the party had no sitting Member of Parliament (MP).
The term ‘orphan constituency’ denotes areas without an incumbent MP representing the political party in Parliament. Despite the generally peaceful conduct of the elections, a shadow looms over the process, with six delegates finding themselves on the radar of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for alleged corruption during the electoral proceedings.
Mr. Mohammed expressed support for the victorious candidates, underlining the party’s commitment to a neutral stance. In an interview with the media, he voiced satisfaction with the election results and the overall peaceful nature of the process.
“The emerged winners for the various constituencies are the people that we are going to send into the elections. So for me, there were no surprises; I was very happy with the result and the peaceful conduct of the elections,” Mohammed stated.
Mohammed conveyed optimism regarding the party’s prospects in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
“These are constituencies that do not have MPs, and the men and women we have selected demonstrate that we are ready for the battle.”
However, the election’s aftermath reveals a cloud of allegations, as six delegates now face accusations of corruption according to the OSP. Mohammed addressed these concerns but denied any knowledge of the alleged bribery incidents.
“These matters have not come properly before the party for investigation, but our officers on the ground did not witness any bribery or vote-buying. Even though I am seeing pictorial evidence of people holding money, I have not seen who is giving them the money,” Mohammed explained.
He emphasized that no official complaint had been lodged within the party, leading to the conclusion that no internal investigation would be conducted by the NPP. Mohammed acknowledged the challenges in investigating the allegations, citing the lack of information about the source of the money and the absence of reports of bribery or vote-buying.
The Deputy General Secretary concluded by acknowledging the possibility of legal consequences if the OSP applies appropriate laws and gathers sufficient evidence against those implicated in corrupt practices.
In summary, the NPP orphan constituency elections, while showcasing the party’s optimism for the future, are shadowed by allegations of corruption. The party, represented by Haruna Mohammed, remains steadfast in its support for the elected candidates but faces the challenge of addressing and clarifying the allegations raised by the OSP.
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Story by: Joycelyn Makafui Agbo | univers.ug.edu.gh
