Two officials of Ghana’s Electoral Commission in trouble for alleged bribe
Two officials of the Electoral Commission (EC), including the Director of Elections, Mr Isaac Asomaning, have been arrested by the police for allegedly receiving a bribe from Prophet Daniel Nkansah, the flag bearer of the New Vision Party (NVP), to register him as a presidential candidate for this year’s general election.
The Logistics Officer of the EC, Mr Emmanuel Asante Kisi, the second person in the bribery scandal, and Mr Asomaning, have both been questioned by the Accra Regional Police Command and consequently granted bail by substantial sureties, while Prophet Daniel Nkansah, who allegedly gave the sum of GH¢1,600 as bribe to the two, is being sought.
Meanwhile, Prophet Nkansah’s son, Daniel Boahene Nkansah Junior, who was also arrested and charged for abetting the corruption of a public officer, has also been questioned and granted bail.
Giving the facts of the case, the Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Frank Adufati, said the two EC officials were being held for corruption by a public officer.
The charge, according to Chief Superintendent Adufati, was a misdemeanor and the two would be liable for imprisonment for three years or less if convicted.
The facts as presented by the police indicated that at about 5:30 pm on October 20, 2012, Mr Nkansah Junior, who is also the General Secretary of the NVP, arrested and handed over one Mr Samuel Oppong to the Odorkor Police.
Mr Oppong was allegedly sent by Abena Aberefi Asante, the wife of Mr Kisi, to return a sum of GH¢1,600 to Mr Nkansah Junior, having failed to register his father for the presidential race.
Unknown to the two EC officials, the wife and the taxi driver, Nkansah had pre-arranged with some members of the media, who quickly took shots of the taxi driver and them as soon as he (Nkansah) appeared on the scene.
Mr Nkansah Junior, thereafter alerted the Odorkor Police, who arrested Mr Oppong.
Mr Nkansah Junior’s report was that about a month ago, Mr Asomaning and Mr Asante Kisi collected the GH¢1,600 from him with the assurance to assist in the registration of his father, Prophet Nkansah, as a presidential candidate of the NVP.
According to the Regional Crime Officer, Mr Assumaning had denied ever receiving any money from the complainant.
Mr Adufati, however, said Mr Kissi had allegedly admitted receiving the said amount from the son of Prophet Nkansah but claimed that the money was in appreciation for supervising the party’s congress.
Prophet Nkansah, according to Chief Superintendent Adufati, would be charged with corruption of a public officer.
“At the moment, the case has been taken over from the Odorkor Police by the Accra Regional Police for further investigations,” he added.
Source: Daily Graphic