Mahama enjoys an unfair advantage – Sly Mensah says

Saturday, February 23, 2019 Policy

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

2019-02-23

Sylvester Mensah, the NDC's presidential hopeful, accused the party's leaders of favoring former president John Dramani Mahama in order to increase his chances of winning the flag-bearer position.

Addressing Ghanaweb on the sidelines of the election, Mr. Sly Mensah claimed that national party officials had campaigned vividly for Mahama, organized meetings on his order and although other aspirants complained of these offenses, party leaders had turned a blind eye. they are in favor of Mahama.

"We had so many infractions right off the bat, problems with the list of delegates. Until now, we never had a complete list as we wished. the phone numbers of delegates removed from the list and I encountered situations in which national officials or some members of national officials were involved in a candidate's campaign; the former president. We have seen the party hold meetings for a candidate. We complained about these offenses, it never worked, "he complained bitterly.

According to him, the party leaders forced each flag bearer to pay 320,000 GHC with insurance to cover the food and transport of the voters, but the leaders then turned around saying that the Transport was only sponsored by John Mahama.

Lamenting that he and the other aspirants were dismissed by party leaders, Sly Mensah said that there was an unfair advantage for Mahama.

"We paid 320,000 GHC per aspirant; it was also intended to provide transportation and, to a certain extent, food. The party announced that it was not able to provide transportation, and then the party took a breather announced that a person was providing transportation. You can clearly see that it is an attempt to create an unfair advantage, "he lamented.

"We came a long way, we sent petitions. Some sensible people went to court to ask for an injunction. They won the case by compelling the party to plead for the case to be settled amicably so as to accept all the orders being processed. This clearly tells you that these offenses are real, "he added bitterly.

Mr. Sly Mensah, optimistic for the post of flag bearer, although the party has his favorite candidate, said he would support the one who wins the presidential primaries, as the results show what party members want.

Context

The National Democratic Congress (NEC) is voting today in all regions to choose a leader for the 2020 presidential election. Seven pillars are ready for confrontation in order to receive the approval of the delegates at the meeting. the election to be held at the constituency level across the country.

They are Mr. Goosie Tanoh, businessman, former President John Dramani Mahama, Professor Joshua Alabi, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, and Mr. Alban Sumanu Bagbin, second Vice-President of Parliament. The other members are Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, former Minister of Education and Trade, Mr Sylvester Mensah, former Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority and Alhaji Nurudeen Iddrisu, a business man.

However, it turned out that former President Mahama was winning with a huge margin in one of 275 constituencies in the country.

The final results of the Bodi constituency in the western region, where polling stations closed at least five hours before the official closing time, allowed the former president to beat his six challengers of 39, at least 600 votes.

Mr. Mahama received 608 votes in total.

Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin voted 5 times; Ekwow Spio-Garbrah voted 4 votes; Professor Joshua Alabi voted 9 votes; Sylvester Mensah voted 3 votes; Goosie Tanoh 7 votes and businessman Alhaji Nurideen Iddrisu voted 2 votes.

The total number of votes cast was 641 with three rejected votes, representing a participation rate of 95%.