Deputy National Elections Director of the NDC, Rashid Tanko Computer, has rejected an apology from New Juaben South MP Michael Okyere Baafi following the NPP’s defeat in the Akwatia by-election.
He insists the MP must either resign as he promised or be forced to apologise publicly in Parliament.
“We are going to Michael Okyere Baafi’s constituency. He has apologised we are not accepting his apology. He must resign. If he doesn’t resign, Ghanaians will not take politicians seriously.
“We might be serious. They must hold us to our words. Whatever comes out of my mouth, they must take it seriously. I can’t just stand here and make allegations, say certain things, and then within 24 hours [apologise].”
Mr Tanko Computer described how Baafi appeared confident at the coalition centre until the results were revealed.
“Do you know that he came in here when we were about to start the coalition, beaming with smiles, telling me that ‘we are winning’, until I showed him the results on my phone that ‘my friend, you have lost the election and I’m coming to your constituency for the by-election, then he started perspiring. That’s the time he got to know that things had changed.”
He said Mr Baafi’s words must now bind him.
“The gentleman made a categorical statement, ‘I will resign’. Ah, let us go and test their strength in that constituency and see whether that is a stronghold of the NPP.
“That’s why he could stand and say, he will resign. He was here with us, and we are going to hold him to it.”
Mr Tanko Computer declared that the NDC will not relent.
“If he doesn’t, I will write to the Speaker of Parliament and he must apologise on the floor of Parliament, so that the whole public will see who he is, so that they know that certain activities of people like that should not be countenanced. People like him must allow decency in our politics so that Ghanaians will respect us.”