‘Proxy’ Voter Jabs Afari Gyan

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Created on Thursday, 20 June 2013 00:00

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Abdul Basit: ‘Proxy’ Voter, Jabs Afari Gyan

THE MATTER before the Supreme Court seems to be taking a new twist as a Dubai-based Ghanaian, Abdul Basit, has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairman, Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, of peddling falsehoods in court.

He claimed that he did not register with the EC and also did not order anybody to vote on his behalf during the national polls, but to his utter surprise the EC boss stated in court that he ‘Basit’ voted by proxy.

Speaking to Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye of Kessben FM on phone from Dubai, Basit, a worker of National Drilling Company, Dubai, said he was prepared to appear before the Supreme Court to clear his name if the need arose.

Basit claimed that Dr Afari Gyan recently said at the Supreme Court that he ‘Abdul Basit’ registered and indeed ordered for someone to vote on his behalf in the last polls which the NPP is contesting in court.

He told Omanhene that there was no iota of truth in the comments of the EC chief, stating he was shocked to the marrow when news reached him that the EC boss had mentioned his name in court.

According to him, he has been receiving countless phone calls from his family members and friends in Ghana and across the globe ever since the EC chairman mentioned his name in court.

Basit said he was worried over the situation, hence his decision to come out and rubbish the EC boss’ statement to set the records straight, adding he was prepared to appear in court to correct the anomaly.

He said he could not recollect when he registered to take part in the elections either in Ghana or Dubai so he was still at a loss when his name was mentioned in court.

Basit, who hails from northern Ghana, said he was in Dubai when the elections was held last year, adding that nobody approached him to register so he could take part in the polls.

He explained that somewhere last year, Ghanaians in Dubai were ordered to register with the Ghana consulate in the host country so that they could keep their records.

Basit said that exercise at the Ghana consulate had nothing to do with the elections, noting the registration was to make it possible for the consulate to assist them when the need arose.

Nana Akufo Addo, the NPP flagbearer and his running mate, Dr. Bawumia, as well as Jake Obestebi Lamptey are contesting the results of the 2012 polls at the Supreme Court.

Source: I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi