Secrets Reporters
The South-South Executive of the All Nigerian Community (ANC) Ghana has strongly refuted a report published by the Accra Times on April 8, 2026, titled “Petition Challenges ANC Ghana Electoral Process, Cites Constitutional Breaches,” describing the publication as riddled with distortions, selective omissions, and calculated misrepresentations aimed at damaging the integrity of the organisation’s electoral process.
In a detailed statement issued to set the record straight, obtained by SecretsReporters, the South-South Executive described the Accra Times report as more of a propaganda piece than balanced journalism, accusing it of occasioning reputational harm through unverified claims.
The Executive maintained that the electoral process within ANC Ghana, particularly under the South-South zoning arrangement, was neither arbitrary nor unconstitutional.
According to the statement, Miss Ophelia Mitchell, a member of the South-South Community and erstwhile First Vice President, voluntarily purchased a nomination form at the cost of 500 Ghana Cedis. This amount was not clandestinely imposed but was openly deliberated and unanimously adopted during a general meeting of the South-South Community, which Miss Mitchell attended without raising any objection.
The statement further revealed that the formation of a South-South Electoral Committee to screen aspirants was transparently communicated during a subsequent February meeting attended by all stakeholders, including Miss Mitchell. The screening exercise was conducted fairly and uniformly for all aspirants.
Miss Mitchell’s disqualification, the Executive clarified, was not an act of victimisation but a direct consequence of her failure to meet clearly defined eligibility requirements, most notably the absence of a valid Ghana residence permit and an up-to-date international passport at the time of screening on March 5, 2026.
“It is a matter of record that her documents were only procured on March 30, 2026, nearly four weeks after the screening exercise. This timeline unequivocally invalidates any claim that she possessed the requisite documentation at the material time,” the statement read.
The Executive emphasised that in any credible electoral system, qualifications are assessed based on documents available at the time of screening, not retroactively assembled credentials.
Beyond the eligibility issue, the statement noted that Miss Mitchell’s subsequent actions further undermined her position. Reports indicate that she forcefully retrieved and removed documents suspected to be under review during a South-South meeting — an act widely interpreted as an attempt to compromise evidentiary integrity ahead of her petition to the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.
Such conduct, the Executive said, is inconsistent with the principles of accountability and due process she now claims to defend.
On the role of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, the statement praised Ambassador Dayo Adeoye for acting in good faith as a neutral mediator. After receiving a petition from Miss Mitchell, the High Commission convened a meeting with all relevant stakeholders. Following a thorough review of submissions and documentary evidence, it was unanimously agreed that due process was followed and that Chief David Ukueku was the only aspirant who met all constitutional requirements to become the next ANC Ghana President.
The High Commission, the statement stressed, neither imposed any candidate nor interfered with the process, contrary to the allegations in the Accra Times report.
Following these developments, the South-South Community suspended Miss Mitchell and withdrew the recommendation that had facilitated her emergence as First Vice President. These actions, the Executive explained, were taken in accordance with internal governance structures and were necessitated by her conduct.
The statement also dismissed attempts in the publication to insinuate a broader conspiracy involving the outgoing ANC Ghana President, Dr. Bayo Ashaolu, describing such claims as speculative and unsubstantiated. While acknowledging concerns about administrative delays in the formal handover process, the Executive noted that no credible evidence links Dr. Ashaolu to the issues raised by Miss Mitchell. His tenure is scheduled to end on April 15, 2026, with stakeholders anticipating a smooth transition.
The South-South Executive reminded the media of its sacred duty to inform rather than inflame, to investigate rather than insinuate. It urged the Accra Times to uphold the principles of accuracy, balance, and fairness, warning that publishing unverified claims without due diligence risks misleading the public and undermining the credibility of legitimate institutions.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the South-South Community’s commitment to democratic principles, transparency, accountability, and peaceful coexistence among all members of ANC Ghana.
“Truth, no matter how inconvenient, remains the cornerstone of justice and institutional credibility,” the Executive declared.
The detailed rebuttal is seen as a strong pushback against what many stakeholders describe as a one-sided narrative aimed at casting doubt on the integrity of the ANC Ghana electoral process.
The development comes as the organisation prepares for a smooth leadership transition on April 15, 2026.