Former Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, Dr. Adomako Kissi, has urged Parliament to pass a law allowing political parties to retain parliamentary seats for the remainder of a four-year term when vacancies occur, instead of holding by-elections.
Dr. Kissi argued that such a policy would reduce tensions, violence, and security risks often linked to by-elections in Ghana.
“I support the idea where the seat is left for the party for the four years, so that these hotly contested things based on the current behaviour of Ghanaians will be stopped,” he said on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
Citing past violent incidents during by-elections — including the near-death of a former Minister of State at Ablekuma North — Dr. Kissi stressed the need for reform.
“Because of our Ghanaian nature, and looking at the security issues and the deaths that occur during by-elections, I think it is worth considering,” he noted.
He added: “If we want fewer incidents at by-elections, then there should be no by-election. There should be a bill that, once you win the election and circumstances happen, the party should just take over for the four years. I think that convention should hold, and it will make sense largely because of the behaviour of the two parties over time.”
His comments come as Private legal practitioner Kofi Bentil also renewed his call for Ghana to completely scrap by-elections. Bentil’s latest push follows the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) decision not to contest the upcoming Tamale Central by-election.
In a Facebook post, Bentil praised the move, describing it as “smart” and “sensitive.”
“This is what a smart, sensitive political party does. I hope reciprocated,” he wrote.
“And as I’ve said in the past, I hope by-elections are scrapped altogether. Well done NP
