The National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has sharply criticised the Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) for their protest at the Police Headquarters over delayed election results in Ablekuma North, describing the move as both misdirected and theatrical.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday morning, Mr Vanderpuye questioned the purpose of the MPs’ march, which he said had more to do with gaining media attention than addressing a constitutional issue through the right channels.
“This looked more like a publicity stunt than a democratic process,” he said. “The police are not responsible for election results, the Electoral Commission is.”
The protest by the Minority followed a delay in declaring the outcome of the Ablekuma North parliamentary election, prompting concerns among their ranks about transparency. The MPs marched to the Ghana Police Service Headquarters on Wednesday, calling for clarity and action.
But Mr Vanderpuye was unsparing in his assessment of the move. “I think it is a simple fact that some of them have developed bellies, and they want to exercise so that they reduce the fat around their bellies,” he remarked, in a comment that has already sparked reactions online. “Seriously speaking, I do not think this was necessary.”
He insisted that if the MPs had legitimate concerns, they should have addressed them to the Electoral Commission or sought redress through the courts.
“Your petition should go to the EC, not the IGP,” he continued. “The IGP does not conduct elections. If the EC has failed in its duty, take it to court or engage them directly. Marching to the Police Headquarters is simply a misplaced priority.”
While the Minority maintains their protest was peaceful and a legitimate expression of democratic concern, Mr Vanderpuye’s comments highlight growing political tensions and raise questions about the use of protest as a tool in post-election disputes.
There has been no immediate response from the Minority leadership to Mr Vanderpuye’s remarks.
The Electoral Commission has yet to issue an official explanation for the delay in the Ablekuma North results.
