The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), represented by its Deputy National Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, has stated that the party is prepared to run in the impending Assin North by-election.
In an interview, Mustapha Gbande refuted rumors that James Gyakye Quayson had been replaced as their parliamentary candidate for the district. He mentioned that the NDC would run James Gyakye Quayson again, since he is dependable and well-liked by his supporters.
However, he criticized the NPP-administration for planning to use the judiciary to deprive the residents of Assin North their legal representation in Parliament.
“The party has a plan, but what we are sharing with the public is that the NDC is ready for the by-election. We know that the government is coming to challenge us, and we are already on the ground, and so our preparations are underway. The NDC is prepared for the Assin North by-election.
“We have said that the government has denied the people of Assin North representation in Parliament by using the judiciary. As we speak, the Supreme Court has not been able to deliver a written judgment to the parties involved, which is in itself a travesty of the process.”
Mustapha Gbande
He said that the NDC needed to reinforce what it already knew and to cement its achievements on the ground, as a result. He restated the NDC’s intention to run James Gyakye Quayson again since, in his view, Gyakye Quayson is a respectable person who is well-liked by his supporters. “That decision has not changed. It is propaganda coming from the NPP to attack the integrity of our candidate that we are ditching him. The party has not said so,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, Mustapha Gbande demonstrated that Gyakye Quayson is lawfully allowed to run for office and is presumed innocent, until proven guilty by a court of law. The Deputy National Secretary of the NDC questioned, “Why is the NPP worried more than us?”
He declared that the party would keep an eye out for any potential vote-buying in the NPP and would call for action from the police in such cases.
“Keeping in mind that the government has decided to repeat the issue of vote-buying, we are going to keep the Ghana Police on alert about some of these things. If we cite the issue of vote-buying and make a complaint, the police must not take it as business as usual, but must act on it, so that we can have a level playing field. If we do that, we are optimistic that the NDC will win the seat.”
Mustapha Gbande
Parliament, through its Clerk, declared the Assin North Parliamentary seat vacant on May 30, following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the eligibility of James Gyakye Quayson in occupying the Assin North seat.
On May 17, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous judgement directing Ghana’s Parliament to remove James Gyakye Quayson’s name from the roster of lawmakers representing the Assin North seat.
NPP Joins The Race
By announcing schedules for the Assin North Parliamentary primary election, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) demonstrated its interest in the open seat in Assin North.
The party has also established certain Rules and Regulations that will be made available to stakeholders and will regulate the conduct of the parliamentary primary elections. Additionally, it mentioned that nominations forms would be available for purchase at the Constituency Party Office.
According to a statement made by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, “Opening of nominations is on Wednesday, May 31, and closes on Thursday, June 1”
