Liberia: National Port Authority to Give Elections Commission US$40k for Recount of Ballots.
MONROVIA – Senator J. Milton Teahjay on Thursday made a startling revelation that the National Port Authority (NPA) headed by Mr. Bill Twehway, has committed to pay US$40,000 to the National Elections Commission for the purpose of recounting ballots in the county.
Mr. Twehway hails from Rivercess County.
The communications director of the NPA, Mr. Malcom Scott, however, denied the claim by the Senator from Sinoe County, describing it as a “devilish lie”. He stated that the NPA is not a credit facility.
Mr. Henry Flomo head of communications at the NEC declined to speak on the matter because, according to him, he does not have sufficient information on the issue and will comment at a later date.
On Wednesday, February 24, the Supreme Court mandated the NEC to conduct a re-count of the 104 of the 111 polling places, as initially authorized by the Board of Commissions of the (NEC). The Court said its decision was to ensure fairness and transparency in the voting process after Smith’s closest rival, Steve Tequah, requested recount of the ballots cast in 104 polling places in the county.
By then, the NEC declared that Smith accumulated 3,284 votes, while Tequah collected 3,168 votes, which result Tequah that the commission should conduct a re-count in seven of the 111 polling places in the county. challenged, arguing
However, Tequah, not satisfied with the result, requested that the commission conduct a re-count in seven of the 111 polling places in the county. According to him, he had obtained 80 votes (35.7%) of 228 votes from the seven polling places that the electoral body representative had earlier declared to be invalid after recounting those areas.
It was based upon the changes witnessed that compelled Tequah to demand a recount of votes from the remaining 104 polling places.
Although the re-count kept Smith in the lead, the initial recount increased Tequah’s tally in the seven polling places, narrowing the margin between the two candidates.
Source: Frontpage Africa.
