Former Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour has pulled out of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearership race.
Dr Duffuor was among the three candidates contesting for the top position alongside John Dramani Mahama and former Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu.
At a press briefing on Friday, the former Bank of Ghana governor stated that the party’s primaries is marred with irregularities hence his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.
“As at this time, the party has begun distributing the ballot papers to the various regions and constituencies without our involvement. I wish to reiterate my commitment to the party and grassroots, however my concerns that the party is not ready to conduct free and fair elections is evident for all of us to see,” Dr Duffour said.
“Taking part in such an event will be acting to knowing drinking from a poisoned calabash. After consulting with my support base nationwide, I have been left with no choice but to withdraw as I cannot contest in an election blatantly flawed with irregularities regardless of all my effort to draw attention to the same.”
This comes after he had withdrew his interlocutory injunction against the primaries on Friday.
Dr Duffour had gone to court to bar the party, the Electoral Commission from holding the primaries pending the production of a complete photo album register.
He also wanted the party to deliver the complete register to him at least five weeks ahead of the election.
According to him, data from only 220 out of the 275 constituencies have been verified. An exceptional list of 74,799 he adds has been created which cannot also be verified because of scanty information.
For no credible reason, 3,910 eligible voters at the 220 constituencies have been disenfranchised”, Dr. Duffuor’s writ read in parts.
He further made a point, the photo album put out by the electoral directorate of the NDC with the knowledge, consent and tacit approval of the general secretary of the party would compromise the integrity of the election to his detriment.
“The Plaintiff maintains that the reluctance to extend the time for the internal elections and provide a complete and credible photo album register ahead of time to the presidential aspirants for verification smacks of a plan to create an undue advantage for manipulation of the presidential primaries”, the motion added.
His withdrawal means former President John Dramani Mahama and former Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu will contest for the party’s flagbearership position with the elections scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2023.
