Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed strong disapproval over the actions of Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon.
Alhassan was seen distributing food during the special voting event, an act that has sparked controversy.
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe speaking at the International Press Center in Accra today described the incident as “shameful” and voiced his concern about the role of security officials who were seen in the line accepting the food, stating, “What hurt me most is that these people in the line are security officials and I didn’t see anyone rejecting it.”
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe called for Alhassan to withdraw from the race, stressing that her actions disqualified her as a lawmaker.
“Such a person is not qualified. She should have left the contest by now. We don’t need such people in parliament,” he added.
He further expressed his hopes that Alhassan would lose her seat in the upcoming general elections, labeling her as unreliable for a leadership role.
In addition to his comments about Alhassan, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe joined forces with other statesmen, including Prof. Frimpong Manso and General Nunoo Mensah, to urge the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct the elections impartially and with integrity.
He called for Ghanaians to prioritize the country’s future over partisan loyalties and remain vigilant in ensuring fair and transparent elections.
Background
His comment stems from allegations of voter influence during the special voting exercise on December 2 at the Legon Police Station polling center.
Video footage showed Alhassan distributing food packages to voters in line, sparking widespread concerns about electoral integrity.
In defense, Lydia Alhassan has maintained that her actions were motivated by compassion rather than malice.
Speaking on Citi FM, she stated that the gesture was aimed at assisting voters who appeared tired and hungry during the long wait.
“I only sought to help those in need,” she said, dismissing accusations of trying to sway the electorate. Despite her explanation, critics, including Dumelo, argue that the act undermines the fairness of the election process.