Former President John Mahama commended the Police Service for their professionalism during the by-election at Kumawu in the Ashanti region last Tuesday.
According to the NDC flagbearer, the conduct of the police personnel gives us confidence for the future that they will continue to bear true allegiance to the state and not to any political party.
In a statement Mahama, however, expressed misgivings with what he described as vote buying in the election, adding that the Electoral Commission must up its game in subsequent elections.
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“I would want to congratulate the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and his men and women for their assistance in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the polls," he said.
Ernest Yaw Anim of the NPP garnered 15, 264 (70.91%) votes to beat his main rival Kwasi Amankwah of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who had 3,723 (17.29%) votes
Mahama said despite the defeat, the NDC has made major inroads in the governing New Patriotic Party’s stronghold.
Congratulations to the people of Kumawu for the peaceful conduct of Tuesday’s parliamentary by-election.
Of course, I cannot forget the warmth of the people and the enthusiasm demonstrated when I led a delegation from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to campaign for our candidate, Kwasi Amankwah. I am very grateful.
That enthusiasm was aptly demonstrated in the increased number of votes our candidate garnered in the poll – 1,284 actual votes representing an increase of 52.6% over our 2020 performance.
“To the Electoral Commission, you are once again reminded that a credible election depends as much on the persons you recruit and appoint as presiding and other officers as much as it depends on the collaboration with the agents and representatives of the political parties,” he wrote on Facebook.