The controversy surrounding unpaid polling agents in Ekumfi District has taken a new turn as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) district secretary faces scrutiny over allegations of withheld allowances. Coastal FM, a radio station based in Mankessim, recently invited the NPP district secretary to address the issue, which has left over 300 polling agents frustrated and demanding accountability.
During the interview, the secretary claimed that over 200 agents have already been paid, and the remaining agents would receive their allowances by the close of today, February 7, 2024. However, this statement has been met with skepticism, as a majority of the agents insist they have not received any payment.
The dispute began after the December 7, 2024, elections, when polling agents recruited by the NPP in Ekumfi District were promised allowances for their services. Despite funds reportedly being delivered to the district executives, many agents were left unpaid. The situation escalated when executives, upon learning of plans for a press conference, hastily distributed 200 Ghana Cedis to agents in nine communities. Critics accused the move of being a calculated attempt to create false evidence of payment.
The parliamentary candidate for the area, Hon. Stelfa Nana Okumkom Donkor, has remained silent on the matter, further fueling tensions. Agents who have yet to receive their allowances are calling for transparency and immediate action, questioning why the district executives failed to disburse the funds equitably from the outset.
As the deadline for payment approaches, all eyes are on the NPP leadership in Ekumfi. Will the remaining agents finally receive their dues, or will this controversy deepen the mistrust between the party and its grassroots supporters? For now, the unpaid agents remain hopeful but vigilant, vowing to continue their fight for fairness and accountability, and the media awaits the result.
