Martin Kpebu, an outspoken opponent of the Akufo-Addo administration, has expressed his happiness that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will shortly be stepping out, following the 2024 general elections.

He believes that under the Akufo-Addo regime, eight years will be gone.

On June 3, the private attorney who has accused President Akufo-Addo of failing, participated in a conversation about the approaching by-election in Assin North by saying, “I’m so excited that in about 16 months, Akufo-Addo will be going. I can’t believe we have lost 8 years just like that.”

The by-election was scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, according to the Ghanaian Electoral Commission (EC).

Following the Attorney General’s letter to the Speaker on Wednesday, May 17, informing him of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, the Clerk of Parliament, declared the seat vacant.

“All completed nomination forms are expected to be delivered in quadruplicate.”
EC

“The filing fee for the election is Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢10,000.00) per candidate,” the Chairperson, Jean Mensa, said in the press release.

After this issuance, the two major parties in Ghana (NPP and NDC) have shown keen interest in the seat and would contest against each other for the representative of the Constituency.

Gyakye Quayson Deserves To Serve Assin North

According to former Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Baba Jamal, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) decided to put deposed Assin North lawmaker, James Gyakye Quayson up for the by-election because it presumes he deserves another opportunity to represent the people.

In an interview on Saturday, June 3, Baba Jamal said that the NDC had already agreed to nominate Gyakye Quayson for the by-election even before he decided to run.

“Even before this decision came, the party had taken the decision that Gyakye Quayson will go back because we think he deserves another chance to serve the people.”
Baba Jamal

Mr. Gyakye Quasyon while announcing in a statement on Thursday, June 1, to contest in the byelection said “I know that you, the people of Assin North, are ready for the bye-election.”

“Democracy must be restored. I urge you all to come out in your numbers to vote for me so I return to Parliament and continue the work I began to do on your behalf, towards advancing the Assin North development agenda.”
Gyakye Quayson

Additionally, after the date of the by-election was announced, some earth-moving equipment have been noticed in the Assin North Constituency in the Central Region. On Thursday, June 1, several of the Constituency’s roadways were being rebuilt.

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a presidential staffer, however refuted accusations that the approaching by-election is the reason that work is being done on the roads in Assin North.

He claims that long before the by-election date was set, road projects were being worked on in the area.

“There are 112 projects that have been initiated with some of them going on in including 17 roads,” he exclaimed in an interview and stressed that “…The roads have started already before the by-election.”

However some residents claim no amount of “lies” would convince them to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), yet others are also happy the advent of the by-election has resulted in a reconstruction of the roads. One stated clearly that “We need development, so if it is coming because of the by-election, we are happy.”