Talensi by-elections: Man arrested for allegedly possessing thumb-printed ballot papers

Police in Tongo in the Talensi Constituency have arrested one person who was allegedly caught with thumb-printed ballot papers in the ongoing by-election.

The suspect, believed to be a sympathizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was arrested at Winkogo, a community in the Talensi constituency.

A member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gaby Otchere Darko who is at the Tongo District Police Station narrated that the party was informed that ‘an alleged NDC person had been arrested with what looked like some printed ballot papers and that he was being sent to the Police Station.

‘So we rushed here; myself, Sir John and Kwesi Amoako Atta – all lawyers. We got here and we met Portuphy, the chairman of the NDC, the regional secretary who is also a lawyer.’

He mentioned that the chairman of the NDC was prompted to come to the Police Station due to the ‘seriousness’ of the matter.

Otchere Darko said the NPP will ensure justice is served saying, ‘we are still here and we will see how this matter will be dealt with.’

Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Secretary of the NDC, Rauf Khalid has dismissed claims that the arrested individual is a member of the governing party.

He also denied claims by Otchere Darko that the suspect had thumb printed ballot papers in his possession.

‘What Gabby said is palpably false. It’s not true that an NDC youth activist was found ballot papers; it’s not true.’

Narrating his version of the story, Khalid said: ‘I was at the polling station when everything happened. A group of young guys came there with that young boy. They saw him in town absently holding a sample ballot paper – a sample and not a ballot paper that is being used to vote.’

‘Only one single sheet that he was holding, a group of young boys believed to be NPP boys saw him on the way, picked him and brought him there and then handed him over.’

He argued that in the run up to elections, it is common to see people holding sample ballot papers.’

According to him, the NDC supporters nearly lynched the man but the suspect was saved through his intervention.

‘Nobody is wearing party colours, no vehicle is moving with party colours and so how they have known that this is an NDC man they have arrested?’ he queried.

The people of Talensi are currently voting to elect a Member of Parliament (MP) to replace their resigned MP who has been made the Paramount Chief of Talensi.

There is heavy security presence at the area and voting is proceeding smoothly.

Credit: Adomonline.com


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