Following the dismissal of the former Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson, by a Supreme Court decision, the Electoral Commission (EC) has set Tuesday, June 27, 2023, to arrange a by-election in Assin North.
Since he was a Canadian citizen when he ran for and won the seat in 2020, the court ordered Parliament to remove his name from its records.
As a result, on Tuesday, May 30, Parliament declared the Assin North seat vacant.
The Electoral Commission announced the by-election date in a statement in accordance with Article 112(5) of the Constitution, as amended.
“A prospective Candidate may personally deliver or cause to be delivered on his/her behalf by either the Proposer or Seconder of his/her Nomination, the completed Nomination Forms to the Returning Officer at the Assin North District Office of the Commission, on the dates and times stated above.
“The Nomination Forms for each Candidate shall be witnessed by the signature or mark of two (2) registered voters, as Proposer and Seconder, and supported by eighteen (18) other registered voters in the Constituency as assenting to the Nominations. The Nomination Forms shall also be endorsed with the Candidate’s consent to the Nomination.”
EC
Between Monday, June 12, 2023, and Wednesday, June 14, 2023, interested parties who intend to run for the seat must submit their nomination papers to the Assin North District Office of the Commission.
On each day, the submission window is set to be open from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
A filing fee of GH 10,000 must be paid by prospective candidates to complete the nomination process.
The purpose of the by-election is to elect a new parliamentary representative for the Assin North Constituency to fill the vacant seat.
Assin North NPP Contenders Pick Up Forms
To run for office in the forthcoming by-election, certain candidates for the NPP have begun collecting nomination forms at the New Patriotic Party’s Assin North constituency office.
Charles Opoku and Fredrick Freeman Amoah Kyei are the two candidates fighting for the position of NPP representative in the by-election.
The NPP began accepting nominations from candidates interested in running in the by-election since yesterday.
NDC Prepared For By-Election
The National Democratic Party (NDC) is committed to running in and winning the Assin North by-election, as stated by Abraham Amaliba, the NDC’s Director of legal affairs.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Amaliba said “It appears that the Attorney General who is championing this is running ahead of himself. But the party is also poised for the by-election and the party is preparing for the by-election.”
The NDC however, decided to present James Gyakye Quayson again for the Assin North by-election.
Godwin Ako Gunn, the Deputy communications officer, claimed in a statement that Mr. Quayson was a victim of a hung parliament because the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had done all in its power to lower the number of NDC lawmakers.
“The only reason the NPP is so desperate to get a majority in Parliament is to pass the AGYAPA DEAL, the last promise left for the President’s family to own the natural resources of Ghana for a minimum of 25 years. I entreat all lovers of our democracy to support Hon. Quayson and the NDC, both in cash and in kind, to regain that seat. This support must be channelled through the proper party structure to ensure efficient deployment.
“With the Kumawu bye-election experience, we know the IMF cash will be up for spending in the Assin North Constituency. That is why all well-meaning Ghanaians must stand up to be counted in this campaign. Nana Addo has turned this nation upside down. It will take you and I to redirect the course of this nation.”
Godwin Ako Gunn
He asserted that there is no better time than present for the NDC to save its citizens by giving everything it has. “light a candle, and keep your hopes alive – because there are better days ahead,” he emphasized.
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