The Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ayawaso West Wuogon and actor, John Setor Dumelo, has reacted to the viral video in which he was captured having a heated exchange with someone at a limited voter registration center at the University of Ghana, Legon campus. The incident happened on Monday, May 27, when the actor-cum-politician was touring the registration center.
Following the incident, many have been accusing the politician of misconducting himself at the center.
However, in a press release sighted by Awakenewsroom, Mr. Dumelo made it clear that he was innocent, and that it was the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Lydia Alhassan, who “instruct[ed] his supporters to attack him.
According to him, the MP got infuriated when prospective registrants approached to take pictures with him [Mr. Dumelo] owing to his status as a celebrity.
“…Mr. John Dumelo was performing his usual duties at the registration center, engaging peacefully with registrants. Some members of the NPP at the center attempted to interfere with Mr. Dumelo’s interactions with voters, fearing that his engagement might negatively impact their own prospects. This led to disrespectful behavior towards Mr. Dumelo.
“It is important to note that Mr. John Dumelo, being a well-known celebrity, often attracts requests for photo opportunities from registrants. We believe this makes the Member of Parliament, Lydia Alhassan, uncomfortable, leading her to instruct her supporters to attack John Dumelo on several occasions during the registration exercise,” part of his press statement reads.
Read the full press release below
Our attention has been drawn to a video circulating on social media depicting a confrontation between Mr. John Dumelo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, and some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the ongoing limited registration center at the University of Ghana, Legon.
We acknowledge the video and wish to set the record straight.
On May 27, 2024, Mr. John Dumelo was performing his usual duties at the registration center, engaging peacefully with registrants. Some members of the NPP at the center attempted to interfere with Mr. Dumelo’s interactions with voters, fearing that his engagement might negatively impact their own prospects. This led to disrespectful behavior towards Mr. Dumelo.
It is important to note that Mr. John Dumelo, being a well-known celebrity, often attracts requests for photo opportunities from registrants. We believe this makes the Member of Parliament, Lydia Alhassan, uncomfortable, leading her to instruct her supporters to attack John Dumelo on several occasions during the registration exercise.
Considering the violence during the by-election in Ayawaso West Wuogon instigated for and on behalf of Lydia Alhassan, and after several attempts to defuse the consistent attacks on Mr. Dumelo failed, John Dumelo confronted the disruptive individuals and warned them to conduct themselves decorously or face similar actions from his supporters.
As one will recall, similar incidents occurred during the 2020 new voter registration exercise, where the MP and members of her campaign team attacked and threatened individuals around John Dumelo’s campaign.
We wish to send a strong message to Lydia Alhassan and the NPP members in Ayawaso West Wuogon that we will not allow such ugly events of violence and intimidation to continue going into the 2024 general election. We will be left with no other option but to defend ourselves and protect the sanctity of the will of the Ghanaian people.
Mr. John Dumelo is known to be a peace-loving citizen who respects everyone, including his opponents. He would never conduct himself in a manner that undermines the integrity of the registration exercise.
We urge all well-meaning individuals, members of the NDC, and the general public to ignore the false propaganda spread by the NPP and their parliamentary candidate.
John Dumelo’s campaign, together with the leadership of the NDC, remains focused on achieving a victorious election in 2024. Our aim is to provide leadership that addresses the needs of his constituents, particularly the students in tertiary institutions within the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.