The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that the by-election for the Ejisu constituency will take place on April 30, 2024, following the death of the of the 45-year-old New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah.
Dr. Kumah, who succumbed to a brief illness, on March 7, 2024, leaving behind a wife and six children, plunging the constituency into a period of mourning and political transition.
The EC announced that following the death of the MP, the seat of the Constituency in Parliament has become vacant.
“In accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Commission will hold a By-Election in the Constituency on Tuesday, the 30th of April, 2024.
“Accordingly, the Commission will receive Nominations from prospective Candidates for the Election of a Member of Parliament for the said Constituency.
“The Nominations will be received at the Ejisu District Office of the Commission from 16th April, 2024 to 18th April, 2024 between the hours of 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on each day,” the EC indicated in a statement issued yesterday.
It said interested candidates are required to download the Nomination Forms from the Commission’s website (www.ec.gov.gh) from 9th April, 2024 to 18th April, 2024.
“A prospective candidate may personally deliver or cause to be delivered on his/her behalf by either the Proposer or Seconder of his/her Nomination, the completed Nomination Forms to the Returning Officer at the Ejisu District Office of the Commission on the dates and times stated above.
“The Nomination Forms for each Candidate shall be witnessed by the signature or mark of two registered voters as Proposer and Seconder, and supported by eighteen other registered voters in the Constituency as assenting to the Nominations.
“The Nomination Forms shall also be endorsed with the Candidate’s consent to the Nomination,” the statement added.
NPP busy
Meanwhile, the NPP has witnessed significant activity in preparation for the upcoming by-election, with all nine aspirants seeking to contest the party’s Parliamentary primary granted clearance by the vetting committee on Saturday, April 6, 2024.
Nominations for the NPP’s parliamentary primary were opened on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, and by the deadline on Thursday, April 4, all nine aspiring candidates had successfully filed their candidatures, setting the stage for a competitive selection process.
The NPP is set to elect its parliamentary candidate for the Ejisu constituency on Saturday, April 13, 2024, marking a crucial step in determining the party’s representation in the region.
As of now, no other political party has formally indicated interest in contesting the forthcoming by-election.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has disclosed that it is still deliberating on whether to participate in the electoral process, underscoring the significance of the decision in shaping the political landscape of Ejisu.
With an atmosphere of anticipation and political engagement enveloping the constituency, the upcoming by-election is poised to be a defining moment for both the NPP and potential contenders as they vie for the opportunity to represent Ejisu in Parliament.
