The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, has strongly denied allegations that his campaign team distributed food to voters during the special voting exercise on Monday, December 2, 2024.
The accusation arose following reports that the incumbent Member of Parliament and New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Lydia Alhassan, was seen handing out food packs to voters at the polling centre. In response, the NPP claimed it was actually the NDC team that engaged in food-sharing activities.
Dumelo’s Response
Speaking on Eyewitness News on the same day, Dumelo categorically refuted the allegations and emphasized his commitment to ethical campaign practices.
- Condemnation of Food Distribution Near Polling Areas:
Dumelo criticized the act of sharing food or any other items near voting centres, labeling it as inappropriate and a potential means of voter influence.- “We didn’t share anything. Our issue is even if you want to share food, you can do it away from the area, not in the queue. And certainly not almost close to the area where people are voting.”
- He also clarified that neither he nor his team distributed money or food during the exercise.
Investigation Underway
The incident has prompted the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to initiate an investigation into the alleged food-sharing activities in Ayawaso West Wuogon. This move underscores the seriousness of ensuring fairness and compliance with electoral regulations in the lead-up to Ghana’s general elections.
As tensions remain high in the constituency, Dumelo’s denial and the ongoing investigation by the OSP highlight the importance of maintaining transparency and integrity in the electoral process.
