Dickson Ayiriga opposes calls to postpone Akwatia by-election
The election, scheduled for September 2, has drawn appeals for postponement following the death of the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) Director of Elections, who also served as Minister of Defence, in the recent military helicopter crash.
Dickson Ayiriga, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team for the Navrongo Central Constituency, has rejected calls by Election Watch Ghana for the Electoral Commission (EC) to postpone the upcoming Akwatia by-election.
The election, scheduled for September 2, has drawn appeals for postponement following the death of the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) Director of Elections, who also served as Minister of Defence, in the recent military helicopter crash.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Wednesday August 13, Ayiriga argued that yielding to such requests would undermine the EC’s constitutional independence.
“That is why the Electoral Commission is an independent, impartial and neutral body mandated by the Constitution of Ghana to be in charge of electoral affairs. If Election Watch Ghana’s call is heeded, it means anybody at all can also call for the EC to suspend or call off general elections,” he said.
Ayiriga maintained that political activities should not be halted due to the loss of an individual, no matter their position.
“The loss of the Defence Minister, who is also the Director of Elections for the NDC, is a loss to Ghana. But he was not operating solely, his deputies and other party functionaries are there,” he noted.
“Are you saying that the operations of the Defence Ministry should be stopped because we don’t have a substantive minister? The reason for the call is not good enough and should not be considered.”
He stressed that the NPP is fully prepared to contest the Akwatia seat and expressed confidence in the party’s chances of winning the by-election.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | David Adapuna
