NPP Elects Charles Opoku To Contest Assin North Seat
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has chosen Charles Opoku to lead it into the upcoming Assin North By-election.
The party held a primary at Akonfudi in the Assin North Constituency of the Central on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
Mr Opoku was contested by Frederick Freeman Amoah-Kyei. In the end, he polled 397 votes while Mr Amoah-Kyei polled 136 votes.
The NPP candidate will, therefore, face the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s Jame Gyakye Quayson for the vacant seat on June 27, 2023.
Vacancy Seat
The seat became vacant when the Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, annulled the election of James Gyakye Quayson 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 in December 2020.
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, the petitioner went on to the Supreme Court for interpretation of Article 94(2) (a) and a declaration of his election unconstitutional.
2020 Assin North Parliamentary Result
Quayson who contested on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) defeated his contender from the New Patriotic Party side, Abena Durowaa Mensah, in the 2020 Assin North Parliamentary election.
He polled 17,498 representing 55.2%. Abena garnered 14,193 representing 44.8%.
Since 1996, the NPP has won the seat four times; in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2016. The NDC on the other hand, has won thrice; in 1996, 2012 and 2020.
