Two former Presidents from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), did not vote in the presidential election held today, Saturday, January 31.
The two, John Agyekum Kufuor and Akufo-Addo, who by their positions as ex-presidents were delegates who were supposed to have voted but were nowhere to be found during the process.
Polls started at 7am and closed at 2pm but checks show the two did not vote in their polling stations.
No reason has been given officially but a special aide to former vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said there is nothing extraordinary about their absence.
According to Kofi Tonto, the two have now moved to the status of ‘statesmen’ and so it was only proper that they not take sides.
Speaking at the party’s headquarters at Asylum Down right after polls were declared, Tonto said they needed to remain at the top and play a neutral role so that in the event that there is a dispute, they can intervene and resolve it.
Due to their status, Tonto said it won’t be proper for the former presidents to vote and turn round to want to settle disputes.
He cited the case of former president Akufo-Addo, who Dr Bawumia served as his vice president for two terms.
He said if Akufo-Addo takes part in the exercise, many will assume that he voted for him and so if there is dispute, the other side may not want him to part so it makes sense that he stayed out.
By Gifty Boateng