The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has announced plans to conduct nationwide by-elections on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, to fill vacant Assembly and Unit Committee seats across various Electoral Areas and Districts.
The exercise, according to the EC, is being undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), as amended by Act 940, following vacancies that have arisen due to resignations, deaths, or other causes.
Announcing the decision at a press conference in Accra, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, said the by-elections form part of the Commission’s constitutional mandate to ensure that all vacant local government positions are duly filled to promote grassroots participation and effective local representation.
She further explained that the nomination process for the by-elections will begin on Monday, October 6, 2025, and end on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Nomination forms, according to her, can be obtained free of charge from the District Offices of the Electoral Commission or downloaded from the Commission’s official website at www.ec.gov.gh.
Mrs. Mensa added that candidates must complete and submit their nomination forms within the designated period, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and again from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. each working day.
“A nomination form must be delivered in quadruplicate by the proposer or seconder together with two copies of a recent, passport-sized photograph with a white background”.
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa
To qualify as a candidate for the by-election, persons seeking to contest as Assembly Members must have their nomination forms endorsed by a proposer, a seconder, and 18 registered voters who reside within the Electoral Area in which they intend to contest.
Those contesting for Unit Committee positions are required to obtain endorsements from a proposer, a seconder, and eight registered voters from their local area.
The Electoral Commission disclosed that the by-elections will take place across more than 1,000 polling stations nationwide, covering several districts in all sixteen regions.
Participatng Districts
Some of the districts to be covered in the exercise include: Ablekuma Central, Weija-Gbawe, La-Nkwantanang, and Adenta in the Greater Accra Region; Atwima South, Obuasi Municipal, Bosomtwe, and Offinso North in the Ashanti Region; Asuogyaman, Yilo Krobo, Suhum, and New Juaben in the Eastern Region; and Jomoro, Ellembelle, and Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western Region.
In the Central Region, the by-elections will take place in Cape Coast, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, and Mfantseman, while in the Volta Region, the affected districts include Keta and Ketu South. Other regions are also expected to participate, with the EC expected to publish the full list of districts and Electoral Areas in due course.
The EC Chairperson explained that the by-elections will be conducted under the same rules and procedures that guided the previous district-level elections, ensuring transparency, fairness, and public confidence in the process.
She assured political parties, candidates, and the general public that the Commission has put in place adequate logistical and administrative arrangements to ensure a smooth and credible electoral exercise.
Mrs. Mensa encouraged all qualified Ghanaians to actively participate in the process, stressing that local governance remains a key pillar of Ghana’s democratic architecture.
She further noted that the EC views the November 11 by-elections as a crucial step in deepening democratic governance at the grassroots level.
According to her, ensuring that all vacant positions in the local assemblies and Unit Committees are filled will enhance community participation in decision-making and improve accountability in local administration.
These by-elections come at a critical time when the country is working to strengthen its local governance structures. District Assemblies and Unit Committees serve as the first point of contact between citizens and government, playing a vital role in local development, service delivery, and civic participation.
Vacancies within these bodies often impede the implementation of development plans, hence the importance of timely elections to fill them.
The EC has, over the years, faced challenges related to voter turnout in local elections, as public interest in Assembly and Unit Committee polls tends to be relatively low compared to national elections. However, the Commission says it is determined to reverse this trend through sustained public education and transparency in the conduct of the process.
Mrs. Mensa concluded by reaffirming the Commission’s readiness to work with all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society groups, and the media, to ensure that the by-elections are conducted peacefully and efficiently.
The EC’s nationwide by-election scheduled for November 11 is therefore expected to renew civic engagement at the local level and fill long-standing vacancies that have hampered effective representation in several districts.
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