Rev Emmanuel Asante
The Ghana National Peace Council has described as “premature” a press conference by the New Patriotic Party which declared its flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo as winner of Friday’s election.
Head of the Council Most Rev. Prof Emmanuel Asante said the declaration is inconsistent with the laws of the country.
The NPP scribe Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie at 20:15 GMT entreated party supporters to start jubilating by tomorrow because its flagbearer has won the election with a 51.3 per cent.
Addressing a press conference at a rather odd hour-2330 GMT in Accra, Prof Asante called on all to exercise restraint in the face of the “unfortunate press conference” by the NPP.
He admonished the media not to provide its platforms for such “premature press conferences,” saying “we are living in a sensitive time [and] that calls for more restraint.”
He said the stakeholders must not undermine the mandate of the Electoral Commission which has the vested power to declare results.
Prof Emmanuel Asante urged all not to be disturbed by the press conference and also urged the ruling party not to react negatively to the earlier press conference.