The Electoral Commission of Ghana has expressed its readiness to conduct by-election in the Ejisu Constituency in the Ashanti Region, following the tragic demise of the Member of Parliament for the Constituency and Deputy Finance Minister, Dr John Ampontuah Kumah Esq.
The Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, affirming the ‘Commission’s readiness to conduct by-elections in Ejisu Constituency, further indicated that the Commission would conduct the by-election in accordance to the provision of the 1992 Republican Constitution.
The Director for Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission, emphasized that the Commission is well-prepared for the conduct of the by-election as it always factors the possibility of conducting by-elections in its budget.
‘Article 112 of the Constitution says that when a vacancy occurs the Clerk of Parliament will inform the Electoral Commission seven days after the incident. When we are informed and it is an ordinary incident the Commission has thirty days but if it is a result of death we have sixty days to conduct a by-election.
Dr. Serebour Quaicoe
Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, the Director for Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission of Ghana further assured the general public, particularly the people of Ejisu Constituency in the Ashanti Region that the Commission is fully equipped to kick-start the by-election process immediately when it receives official notification of the vacancy from Parliament.
He emphasized the Commission’s perpetual state of readiness, underscoring its commitment to ensuring the seamless continuation of democratic representation in the Ejisu Constituency.
Furthermore, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe explained that if the vacancy had occurred within three months to the 2024 general elections, the Electoral Commission in accordance with the 1992 Constitution would not have held any by-election in the Ejisu Constituency.
He asserted that the provision in the 1992 Constitution is designed to streamline the electoral process and avoid unnecessary disruptions in the event of imminent general elections in the country.
By-Election Under The Eighth Parliament
It is important to state that the conduct of the by-election in Ejisu Constituency in the Ashanti Region would be the third time the Electoral Commission of Ghana would be conducting by-election under the eighth Parliament.
The first by-election was held by the Electoral Commission of Ghana on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 following the death of the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Philip Basoah, in which Ernest Yaw Anim retained the seat for the ruling New Patriotic Party.
The second by-election was held in Assin North Constituency in the Central Region on Tuesday, June 27 2023 following the declaration of the election of James Gyakye Quayson by the Supreme Court in its ruling on Wednesday, May, 17 2023 as unconstitutional, null, and void, and of no legal effect.
At the end of that by-election, the National Democratic Congress James Gyakye Quayson won with 17,245 votes representing 57.56 percent of the valid votes cast with the New Patriotic Party candidate, Charles Opoku coming second with 12,630 votes representing 42.15 percent.
READ ALSO: Ghana’s Journey To Political Inclusion Lags Over Failure To Pass Affirmative Action Bill
