NDC induce Atiwa electorates with 'Obroni Wawu'

By Kobina Welsing/Citifmonline.com | Wed 25th August, 2010 13:00 GMT

The Opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it has uncovered an elaborate plot by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to only rig the upcoming Atiwa polls, but also buy the votes of a good number of voters in the constituency.

Voters in Atiwa in the Eastern Region will on August 31 head to the polls to elect a new Member of Parliament to replace Hon. Kwesi Annoh Ankama, the sitting NPP MP, who died in June.

Pundits say the August 31 succession race is a straight fight between the opposition NPP’s Amoako Atta and the ruling NDC’s Mr Emmanuel Attah-Twum, who is also the current District Chief Executive for Atiwa.

However the NPP says it has gathered credible information that the Ruling National Democratic Congress is trying induce electorates at Atiwa with used-clothes for the upcoming by-election in the constituency.

Speaking in an interview with Citi News, the NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie claimed that over fifteen vehicles have left Accra to the Atiwa constituency with  used-clothes, known in local parlance as ‘obroni wawu,’ to influence the voting pattern of voters in the Atiwa Constituency.

“As at yesterday, my intelligence informed me that they are sending loads of clothing to the area in about some fifteen vehicles, they were dispatched last night. I am aware of that and I can tell them that no amount of vote buying will change the results. I have already advised that they will even lose their deposit and in spite of all that they are doing that will not assist them. My information is very credible”.

According to Sir John members of the NDC are showing signs of desperation adding that the electorates in the Atiwa constituency would not be fooled by the trickery of the NDC. 

“The people in Atiwa will not be fooled by that so no amount of vote buying would inure to their benefit...the NDC are desperate, these are all signs of desperation and am saying it would not help them. They can even take millions of dollars even to the Atiwa constituency they will lose the seat, they will come crushing down, the people in Atiwa are not fools, they cannot be bought and they are disappointed in the this administration”