Former Local Government Minister, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, is set for court Monday to face charges of destroying election materials and disturbing public peace. The Asokwa constituency MP hopeful will be facing the court after a second failed attempt at the seat last Saturday.
If found guilty of the offences, he faces a prison term of up to two years or a fine – or both.
Lawyer and host of Newsfile on Joy FM and MultiTV, Samson Lardy Anyenini says the former local government minister’s charge of destroying election materials could land him in a big trouble.
“If found guilty, he could pay a fine and/or go to jail for up to two years. He would then from the date of expiration of the term of imprisonment be disqualified from being registered as a voter and from voting for at least five years”, he told Myjoyonline.
Mr Anyenini said the additional punishment associated with the destruction of election materials should serve as a good deterrent.
Kofi Jumah destroyed voting materials two hours into yesterday’s polls to elect a parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to contest general elections in 2016.
Reasons for his action are not clear but Luv FM’s editor Saeed Yakubu said the former Kumasi Mayor entered the voting hall, unprovoked, and began tearing the ballot papers and destroying other voting materials.
Speculations are that he was angered by a rousing welcome given to his rival, Patricia Appiagyei when she came to the polling station.
Mr Jumah was quickly arrested, handcuffed and whisked away by the police.
Patricia Appiagyei eventually retained the Asokwa seat with 326 votes, against Mr Jumah’s 158 votes- beating Mr Jumah two consecutive times.
