A political analyst with the Kumasi Technical University (KTU), Dr. Samuel Afriyie, has urged the government to ensure that the reset agenda includes how its appointees communicate on topical issues.
He says although some members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) are now government officials, they still speak as if they are propagating party agenda, forgetting they are now occupying public offices.
According to him, once a party comes to power and appoints members into positions, they should put their offices above the party and conduct themselves as state officials.
His comment comes on the back of the violence that disrupted some polling stations during the rerun of 19 centres in the Ablekuma North constituency.
Commenting on the matter on TV3’s BigIssue segment on NewDay, he said the era where government officials make comments as party activists should stop.
“The reset agenda by the government should also be considered in this situation. What I realised was that, it seems the political party, NDC, have forgotten that they are in government,” he stated.
“Because we realised that government officials were making comments as if they are party activists. When you come to government and you hold positions as government officials, you have to be circumspect of your actions and inaction and your sayings. Some statements by these officials should not be encouraged.
“They have to be seen as government officials working for the people of this country. When it comes to political activism, you have to know how to even coin your message. Don’t act as if you’re not a government official but a party activist,” he added.
Background
The rerun election in 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North last Friday was disrupted by violent attacks, as key political figures were assaulted by unknown individuals during the voting.
Some of these attacks happened in front of heavily armed security officers, causing the election to stop for a while as voters, election officials, and political representatives ran for safety.
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, was attacked at the Methodist 1 polling station, resulting in injuries, as the hoodlums arrived in a pickup truck accompanied by multiple motorbikes, which caused panic among voters.
These thugs stormed the polling station, pushed aside the security officers, and chased after the former MP. She tried to defend herself with pepper spray from her bag, but they overpowered her and handled her roughly. The police quickly stepped in to help her up from the ground, where she had suffered bruises on her face.
The Deputy National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah, was also physically attacked at the St. Peter’s polling station in Odorkor when he tried to gain access to the polling station. Unknown men punched him in the face until the police stepped in to protect him.
Additional disturbances were also reported at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor Polling Station 2, where a police officer was suspended for slapping Agyekum Banahene, a journalist with GHOne TV.
In a press statement announcing the officer’s interdiction, the police service assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted, and further updates would be provided.
READ ALSO: Ablekuma North rerun: Police interdict officer for slapping GHOne TV reporter at polling station
The Electoral Commission organised the rerun across 19 polling stations after disputes from the December 7, 2024, general election left the constituency without an MP for seven months.
Although the NPP officially boycotted the rerun over claims of unfairness, its candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, chose to participate in the election.
Despite these events, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, won the election by 209 votes, beating the NPP’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie.
Ewurabena Aubynn received 34,090 votes, whilst Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie garnered 33,881, as announced by the Electoral Commission.
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