Sammi Awuku, the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North and a key figure in the Bawumia campaign, has revealed the reasons behind the lack of a smile from the former vice president during the signing of the peace pact.
According to Sammi Awuku, Dr Bawumia was deeply unhappy during the peace pact signing due to some major issues.
He explained that Dr Bawumia is unhappy with the decisions taken by the party’s election committee, which has left him agitated and frustrated.
Speaking in an interview with Akwasi Nsiah on Badwam on Adom TV, Sammi Awuku explained, “Dr Bawumia did not pretend about how he felt. Anyone who watched closely could see that he was not his usual smiling self.
“He was clearly moody, and that tells you that all is not well,” he said.
Sammi Awuku added, “One of the major issues is the decision to decline proxy voting. Dr Bawumia has a very strong support base in the Diaspora, and in the 2023 presidential primaries, that support was reflected clearly in his convincing victory.
“To suddenly take away proxy voting is a big blow and raises serious concerns,” he explained.
Sammi Awuku further pointed out unresolved controversies surrounding the representation of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) in the electoral process.
He added, “The TESCON issue has not been handled well at all.
“It is another challenge that adds to the growing perception that the process is not being managed fairly,” he added.
Sammi Awuku further claimed that several party members who express views perceived to favour Dr Bawumia are quickly hauled before disciplinary committees, but supporters of other aspirants who make offensive remarks against Dr Bawumia face no sanctions.
Mr Awuku asserted, “There is something fishy going on. It appears those aligned with Dr Bawumia are the ones being dragged to disciplinary committees, while others who malign him are left off the hook without even a word of caution”.
However, William Yamoah, the NPP Election Committee, speaking on the same programme, rejected suggestions that the process is skewed against any aspirant.
According to him, the committee has acted in good faith, as their goal is to deliver a credible election.
William Yamoah stated, “We have done our best as a committee, and we firmly believe that the election will be free, fair and transparent.
“Throughout this process, we have consistently engaged the agents and representatives of all aspirants in most of the key decisions taken to govern the election,” Yamoah said.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful Ken Agyapong, Kwasi Kwarteng, has explained why his candidate protested at the party’s peace pact signing.
During the signing ceremony, Ken Agyapong was captured in a viral video raising issues with party officials, prompting questions about his objections.
According to Kwasi Kwarteng, Ken Agyapong’s protest at the NPP peace pact signing was due to a missing clause that had earlier been agreed upon by all aspirants
Speaking on Channel One TV, Kwasi Kwarteng explained, “Initially, the expectation was that the organisers would have served the parties with the documents of the peace pact so that they would have read earlier and know the details and content of it before they came for the event and undertake the ceremony. Unfortunately, we did not get the documents as earlier agreed amongst the parties. So Ken had the first-hand opportunity to go through the document at the venue,” he said.
“Before that, the parties had earlier agreed with the Presidential Election Committee and the Electoral Commission that where the voting centres would also be used as the collation centres, and the declarations would also be made there. And so, in the event that there is any mishap or security is compromised, those centres may not be counted. That was what was agreed at the aspirant level, together with the Electoral Commission and the Presidential Election Committee,” he added.
“Lo and behold, when he led that charge, the chairman of the Presidential Election Committee admitted that it was an omission and, of course, made a verbal assurance that subsequently they would insert it,” he stated.