EC Sets Date For Assin North By-election

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has scheduled June 27 for the Assin North By-election per Article 112 (5) of the constitution.

“Accordingly, the Commission will receive nomination from prospective candidates on the election of a Member of Parliament for the said constituency,” the EC said in a statement on May 31.

From Thursday, June 1, interested candidates can download the nomination form from the website of the Commission.

The filled form will be received at the Assin North Office of the Commission from 12 to 14 June.

This comes after Parliament notified the Electoral Commission about the vacant seat of the Assin North seat in a letter dated May 29 and requested the Commission to take “appropriate consequential action as required by law”.

The seat, once occupied by James Gyaakye Quayson, became vacant when the Supreme Court annulled his election on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, following a suit by Michael Ankomah-Nimfa, a resident of Assin Breku in the Central Region.

The resident challenged Quayson’s qualification to stand as an MP following allegations that he held dual citizenship prior to contesting the MP position.

The former MP, however, argued that he had renounced his Canadian citizenship before contesting the Assin North parliamentary seat.

The petitioner earlier secured a high court ruling in his favour, however, the decision of the court was appealed by Quayson.

After the Appeal Court dismissed his case, he went on to the Supreme Court where the High Court decision was upheld.

NPP-NDC Plans Toward Assin North By-Election
The NPP has already slated a parliamentary primary to elect a candidate on June 7.

The ousted MP for the Constituency will be contesting the seat on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).