General News of Thursday, 13 December 2012

Source: Evans Effah

Inconsistencies in Mfantsiman West results were many – Asamoah Boateng

Defeated aspiring New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for the Mfantsiman West constituency, Stephen Asamoah Boateng has vehemently voiced his objection to what he considers to be mistakes in the collation of the electoral figures in his constituency.

Speaking on the Citi FM's evening news analysis programme Citi Eyewitness News, Mr. Asamoah Boateng said “the constituents are not very happy. I was at the collation centre personally, my agents were on the field. There were lots of concerns and I raised some objections about the figures.”

“We all knew there were some mistakes being made in the collation because almost everybody was tired. They were making lots of mistakes in their additions.”

“We did protest and we went to the regional office to seek clarification and all that... This afternoon I held a press conference and I explained to everybody that there are indications that figures were added up to my competitor which shouldn’t have been.”

According to Mr. Asamoah Boateng “in some areas, figures that were given to him, [his competitor] are figures that shouldn't have been... these are significant figures that will impact on the final results.”

The former Information Minister noted that he had established contact with the Electoral Commission both in Cape Coast and Accra to try to resolve the matter.

"Elections are legal process and not just emotional. In fact, this afternoon, we sent our petition to the Electoral Commission in Cape Coast.”

The former MP for the Mfantsiman West constituency said he had engaged the services of his lawyers and furnished them with all the evidence required for the effective prosecution of the case.

He expressed optimism in the belief that when the final tally and collation were done properly, there would be a shift in the figures.

Meanwhile, the MP elect for the area, Mr. Thomas Aquinas in response to the assertions, said “if he [Mr. Boateng] feels he will take it to court, it’s his democratic right to do that. He can proceed to court.”

According to Mr. Aquinas, all the parties were present when the collation was being conducted after which signatures were appended.