John Dumelo Files Criminal Complaint Against Lydia Alhassan for Alleged Election Fraud
Parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, has made a formal complaint to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) against the current Member of Parliament, Lydia Seyram Alhassan. He accuses her of cheating during the special voting on December 2, 2024.
In a Facebook post, Dumelo explained that he has video evidence showing Alhassan allegedly giving out plastic bags with food and other items to voters waiting in line at the Legon Police Station polling center. He stated, “My team also provided information about plans by Ms. Lydia Seyram Alhassan to illegally influence voters during the main election on December 7, 2024.” Dumelo expects the OSP to act quickly to stop Alhassan from repeating this behavior and to hold her and her supporters accountable.
The complaint was filed by Dumelo’s polling agent, Benjamin Avornyotse. He claims that Alhassan was seen handing out these bags while speaking quietly to voters in line. The complaint states, “I saw Ms. Lydia Seyram Alhassan and some of her supporters with white plastic bags containing items that were not clear. Later, I saw her give these bags to several people in line.”
Avornyotse included video evidence with the complaint and urged the OSP to take action to protect the fairness of the elections.
Lydia Alhassan’s Response
Lydia Alhassan denied trying to influence voters, saying the food was meant for her campaign team, Electoral Commission staff, and journalists at the polling station. She explained in a radio interview that a person in line asked for a package, and her campaign organizer gave one out of kindness. “It was not intentional,” she said, adding that she did not personally distribute anything.
Alhassan called it a misunderstanding and promised to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Public Reaction
The situation has led to mixed reactions. Dumelo condemned Alhassan’s actions as against electoral laws. In a video statement, he criticized giving food to voters, asking, “Why are you sharing food with people in line? We need to follow the rules of the Electoral Commission.”
Dr. Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), also commented on the incident, calling it embarrassing, especially for security officers seen taking food in viral videos. He said it was concerning that security personnel were not more aware of their responsibilities.
Overall, this incident has raised serious concerns about electoral integrity as both candidates prepare for the upcoming main election on December 7, 2024.
