Gyakye Quayson wins Assin North by-election
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Assin North by-election, James Gyakye Quayson, has emerged victorious in the Tuesday’s polls.
Officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) declared Quayson the victor, raising his hand to signal the status as NDC officials broke into their ‘Revo, Revo, has come to stay’ chorus.
Mr Quayson who was ejected from Parliament last month following a Supreme Court decision annulling the 2020 constituency election, won the highly contested by-election with 17,245 votes representing 57.56% of valid votes cast.
His main rival, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party polled 12,630 or 42.15% of valid votes to place second, while Liberal Party of Ghana’s Bernice Enam Sefanu polled only 87 votes or 0.29%.
With a turnout of 74.23%, officials of the EC, in interviews shortly ahead of the declaration of results, indicated that the turnout was very high.
Campaign activities
Assin North, for the past weeks, became the centre of attention in all political discourse.
The hectic and intense campaigning was understandably a desperate attempt by the two parties to hold on to any available seat in parliament as they battle for control over the almost evenly balanced legislature.
Long convoys went in and out of the constituency to nearby Assin Fosu where many of the politicians pitched camp, with the two main political parties marshalling all human resources to the area to appeal for votes.
The election presented an opportunity for both seasoned politicians and emerging figures to showcase their capabilities and win the support of the constituents.
Low turnout in Parliament
Majority of parliamentarians deserted Parliamentary business due to the by-election.
MPs from both sides of the divide stormed Assin North to embark on campaign to persuade the electorates for votes in support of their respective candidate.
The Thunder gathered that only 14 MPs- three minority and 11 , were present at the House on Tuesday.
Due to the low turnout, the Majority Leader, Osei Mensah Kyei Bonsu moved for the House to adjourn the proceedings.
Accusations
The were accusations and counter accusations of vote buying from NPP and NDC.
