An investigation undertaken by Media Without Borders on the ongoing primary elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has revealed that scores of delegates were “camped” at the residence of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bongo, Edward Bawa, during voting hours.
Some of the delegates who were found at the Bolgatanga residence of the MP said they were being held against their will.
“Most of us use motorbikes. The MP invited us here. When we arrived, he said he would take us to the voting centre by a bus and that we should leave out motorbikes here at his house. We are many as you can see for yourself. The bus is to take us there in batches.
“He doesn’t want people to know that he has camped us here. You are not allowed to go to Bongo from Bolgatanga on your motorbike once you get here (the MP’s residence). The bus he has arranged will take you there and bring you back here after voting,” a delegate said.
Media Without Borders counted more than 70 motorbikes parked around the MP’s residence during an undercover interaction with the delegates.
A delegate who mentioned his name as Alhassan Ayariga disclosed that the MP “camped” delegates in three separate locations in Bolgatanga, Bongo and Zorkor.
“The [bus] is taking us [in batches] to the [polling venue] in Bongo,” he told Media Without Borders at the MP’s Bolgatanga residence on Saturday afternoon.
About 1,160 delegates are expected to cast their votes in Bongo, a constituency in the Upper East Region, today. The race for the parliamentary ticket includes Edward Bawa, Professor Ephraim Avea Nsoh and Charles Bawa-Dua.
The NDC— Ghana’s biggest opposition party— is holding its presidential and parliamentary primary polls nationwide.
When contacted, the MP told Media Without Borders: “No comment.”
Link to video below:
Source: Edward Adeti/Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org
