Election Petition has made Ghanaians vigilant – Addison

Philip Addison
Philip Addison

Mr Philip Addison, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Klottey Korle, says the 2012 Election Petition of the Party, has made the electorate very vigilant about the conduct of the December 7 polls.

The NPP was in court for eight months, challenging the results declared by the then Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari Djan, associating it with a number of irregularities and violation of electoral rules.

The NPP based its objections on over-voting, voting without biometric, absence of Presiding Officer’s signature, duplicate serial numbers on pink sheets, duplicate polling station codes and unknown polling stations.

The Supreme Court however dismissed the case that sought the annulment of more than three million votes.  

Mr Addison, who was the lead lawyer of the case, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that the petition had made the citizenry to now scrutinise every activity of the Electoral Commission.

“Issues are being raised on how the Electoral Commission is handling the electoral process and people are now alert. I think people are very much alert,” he said.

He said the NPP would deploy competent agents at every polling station and strive to get the full complement of all the pink sheets an hour after the voting ends.

Mr Addison said if the Party got hold of all the pink sheets it would be in the position to collate the votes and declare the results.

He said although people were worried about the likely rigging of the elections, the strife for change in leadership nationwide would make it very difficult for the National Democratic Congress to do so.

Mr Addison said his move to become a member of parliament was on course and although he was not visible in the media landscape he was in torch with the people that matter.

“We are working from house to house and end every day ends with a political rally. The feedback is positive,” he said.

He discounted claims that he was not a Ga but wanted to be an MP for Klottey Korle,  explaining that it was  a non issue and misleading since “ Am a Ga and people know my family house where I have for the past two years been organising Homowo party”.

He said as a parliamentarian he could do little for the Constituency since his main function was to do laws for the people.

Mr Addison said being very close to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Presidential Candidate of the NPP, he would bring more development on board if the flag bearer won the Presidential Election and he was voted as a member of parliament.

“Under President John Dramani Mahama I could do less.”

He said Nana Akufo-Addo had promised to reduce taxes, which could help create jobs and solve youth unemployment and assist parents to pay their school fees.

He said the one million dollar one district, one district one factory, would also be implemented.

Mr Addison said he would facilitate efforts to make Osu a municipality to help accelerate development. He explained that Osu contributed huge revenue to Accra Metropolitan Assembly but got less attention in terms of progress.

He said he would help fight flooding at Odawna, Asylum Down, Arts Centre and parts of Osu, adding that if former President John Agyekum Kufuor was able to solve Alajo floods then the problem could be fixed.

He pledged to tackle the sanitation and environmental challenges by helping to cover the open drains in the Constituency that got choked leading to the outbreak of cholera and malaria.

He would also provide waste bins to collect rubbish, which overflowed and choked drains and offer the collection of waste on contract.

Source: GNA

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