Chairman of Ghana’s Constitutional Amendment Committee, H. Kwasi Prempeh, has suggested that instead of a by-election, the political party that held the seat must be allowed to elect a replacement.
However, his opinion, which was expressed in a Facebook post, is limited to a vacancy that occurs 12 months of the last election.
His opinion is expressed in connection with the demise of Ernest Kumi and the subsequent contest on a yet-to-be-determined date by the Electoral Commission.
His post on the issue read:
“What if, instead of a by-election, the party that held the seat was given a right to elect a replacement whenever a vacancy occurs within 12 months of the last election? “
The Akwatia Constituency will be expected to go to the polls to elect a new Member of Parliament after their MP died six months after the 2024 elections.
Political parties will have to go for primaries to elect candidates who will represent them in the impending elections.
There are calls on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stay away from fielding a candidate for the seat, a call which many believe will not be taken.
