The Electoral Commission (EC) has engaged the Ghana Police Service (GPS) for the commencement of criminal investigations into the alleged bribery of two of its officials during the Ejisu by-election on Tuesday, April 30.
A statement issued by the Deputy Chairman in Charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, revealed that the two officials, Regina Serwaa and George Sasu, are temporary election officials of the EC “recruited to conduct the Ejisu by-election.”
“Our investigations further revealed that the man in the video walked to their table and enquired whether they had eaten.”
“He then placed the envelope on the table and asked them to use the contents of the envelope for their lunch, following which he walked away.”
Following the incident, the two EC officials were immediately withdrawn from the polling station and the Commission “held preliminary discussions with the Ghan Police Service to kick-start the process for criminal investigations into the matter.”
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko, was caught on camera giving out what many see as a white envelope to the two Electoral Commission officials.
Alleged bribery incident in Ejisu by-election: Money in envelope was for lunch – EC
The incident occurred at the Fumesua Pentecost Church Polling Station with Polling Station Code F311503 on April 30, 2024, during the Ejisu Constituency by-election.
Moreover, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu spoke on 3FM’s news analysis programme Hot Edition. He insisted the EC should involve the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
“The EC, having withdrawn its officers, should go ahead and present the matter to the OSP for the OSP to go into the matter to determine the facts,” he said.
Moreover, Mr. Kpebu said that it is time we demand the truth and also called on the NPP MP to admit his wrongdoing.
Read more: Vote-buying rampant under NPP regime more than ever – Political Analyst
“He should admit it so that the law will take its course and serve as a warning to the rest of us in society,” he stated.
EC awaits full investigations to comment further
Meanwhile, the EC’s Director of Elections, Dr. Serebuor Quiacoe, has stressed that the Commission can only comment further on the matter after thorough investigations.
“From the video we see a white thing, whether it is envelope, handkerchief or white paper, we have to find out what it was meant for etc.” he said in an interview with JoyNews.
Later, in an interview with journalists, Mr. Kingsley Nyarko explained the reason for the tense by-election in Ejisu, which is the stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He stated that the NPP is not leaving any stone unturned because one of the other aspirants, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, was once upon a time a Member of Parliament for the area for twelve years.
The post Alleged bribery of officials: EC engages the Police for criminal investigation to commence first appeared on 3News.
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