EC Clarifies Circulating Notice Of Poll For Kumawu By-Election

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has provided clarification to the circulation of a Notice of Poll for the Kumawu by-election.

According to the EC, it was an “anomaly” that was realised by the Commission later and rectified.

The “anomaly” pertained to a draft Notice of Poll on which the two independent candidates contesting for the parliamentary seat had the same outfit and a bird as their symbols.

“For the information of the Public, both Independent Candidates presented photographs of themselves in kente and a picture of a bird as their symbol to our District Officer in Kumawu.

“Based on this, a draft Notice of Poll, bearing the photograph of the Independent Candidates with similar names, attires and symbols was prepared and submitted to the Commission for approval.”

According to the Commission, the Notice of Poll was not approved nor was it gazetted.

“A Notice of Poll becomes legal and binding only after it is gazetted. The version circulating on social media was never gazetted. It was a mere draft reflecting the photographs and symbols presented to the District Officer,” it explained.

One of the independent candidates had his symbol changed by the Commission into a hoe after the Commission’s attention was drawn to the anomaly.

“When this anomaly came to the notice of the Commission, the second Independent Candidate was advised to change his symbol since he was the last to submit his Nomination Form. He refused to do so causing the Commission to apply Regulation 14(1) (b) and (c) of the Public Elections Regulations, 2020, C.I. 127.”

A new Notice of Poll has, therefore, been printed and circulated in the constituency reflecting the changes.

The Kumawu constituency will be electing a new Parliamentary representative tomorrow to replace Hon Philip Basoah who died in March.

Contesting in the election are the governing New Patriotic Party’s Ernest Yaw Anim, the opposition National Democratic Congress’ Akwasi Amankwaa and two independent candidates bearing the name Kwaku Duah.