John Dumelo Files Criminal Complaint Against Lydia Alhassan Over Alleged Food Distribution During Special Voting

The Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary race has taken a dramatic turn as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, John Dumelo, officially filed a criminal complaint against the sitting Member of Parliament, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

John Dumelo has strongly refuted her explanation

The complaint, lodged on Tuesday, December 3, accuses Lydia Alhassan of distributing food to voters during the special voting exercise held on December 2 at the Legon Police Station polling center. Video footage capturing the act has sparked widespread debate about voter influence and electoral integrity. In the footage, Alhassan is seen handing out food packages to individuals in the voting queue, raising concerns about fairness in the electoral process.

Responding to the allegations, Lydia Alhassan defended her actions during an interview on Citi FM’s Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle. She insisted that her intentions were purely compassionate, explaining that she was merely helping those in need.

“I saw people who looked tired and hungry, so I decided to extend a helping hand. There was no malicious intent behind my actions,” she stated.

However, John Dumelo has strongly refuted her explanation. In a Facebook post on December 3, he announced the filing of the complaint and provided further details.

“This afternoon, at about 1:00 pm, my team submitted a formal criminal complaint against Ms. Lydia Seyram Alhassan to the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” Dumelo wrote.

He added that the complaint included video evidence and additional information alleging plans by Alhassan to influence voters on a larger scale during the main election on December 7, 2024.

The incident has fueled heated discussions around electoral ethics, with many calling for stricter enforcement of laws to ensure a fair voting process. As the Office of the Special Prosecutor investigates the matter, all eyes remain on Ayawaso West Wuogon as the constituency braces for what promises to be a closely watched election.