Ashanti Regional Council of State aspirant, Frederick Adjei, has described the chaos that erupted during the election at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council in Kumasi on Tuesday as disappointing.
The violent disruption, allegedly linked to some individuals within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), occurred as delegates gathered to cast their votes to elect a representative to the advisory body of the President.
Security personnel at the venue were overwhelmed, leading to a temporary suspension of the sorting and counting process.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Adjei expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that such actions should not come from people who are expected to know better.
“We are very worried. The security presence was poor, and something bad could have happened to us. It was really bad,” he lamented.
Mr. Adjei slammed the increasing politicisation of the Council of State, stressing that the Electoral Commission (EC) must thoroughly investigate the matter to ensure that such elections are free from political interference.
“The EC should do a thorough investigation and ensure that those causing confusion are not political actors. This will help prevent conflicts of interest,” he said.
According to him, the election process was marred by unsavory political comments, which he believes go against the principles of democracy.
“Democracy is about tolerance, and we must all uphold that value. Unfortunately, during the elections, I heard some people making political remarks that were completely unnecessary. This is not how it should be,” he noted.
Mr. Adjei further stated that he had advised his supporters to remain calm, making it even more disappointing that experienced individuals, who are expected to offer counsel to the President, were the ones fueling chaos.
“I even told my followers not to cause any trouble, yet the very people who will be advising the President were the ones creating confusion. It is very unfortunate,” he said.
He called on the police to launch an independent investigation to identify those responsible for the disturbances.
“The police must step in and investigate those who caused the chaos. This is the only way we can prevent such incidents in the future,” he emphasized.
The disturbances at the election have sparked widespread concern, with many calling for measures to ensure that future Council of State elections are conducted in a more peaceful and transparent manner.
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