Assin North by-election: NPP, NDC intensify campaign

With less than three weeks to the Assin North Constituency by-election, political activities in the area have intensified as the New Patriotic Party (NPP)and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) move to sell their messages to the electorate.

Leaders of both parties have pitched camps in the constituency ahead of the polls, to campaign for their candidates. Reports indicate that hotels in the constituency and adjoining towns have been fully booked.

NPP elects Opoku
The NPP, which was undertaking some initial grounds work moved into full gear following the election of their candidate on Wednesday, June 7.

Delegates of the party elected Charles Opoku to represent them in the by-election. He secured 397 votes to beat his main competitor, Freeman Amoah-Kyei who garnered 136 votes.

Mr Opoku will face off with the NDC’s James Gyakye Quayson in what pundits have predicted to be a fierce contest. Assin Bereku where the candidates of the two major parties hail from is a beehive of activity.

NDC
The NDC, which is slso determined to maintain the seat,has alleged that the NPP is using the threat to jail Mr Gyakye Quayson in a criminal case, as a campaign message to sway voters to their side.

But, the NPP has vehemently denied the allegation describing it as a defeatist position by the NDC. Mr Gyakye Quayson said he is the best man to lead the constituency again.

Background
The Assin North seat became vacant following a ruling by a seven-member Supreme Court on May 17, 2023 that declared the election and subsequent swearing-in of Mr Gyakye Quayson, as unconstitutional, null, void, and of no effect.

The apex court found that Quayson was ineligible to contest for the position of Member of Parliament during the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.

The court determined that Quayson had not fulfilled the nationality requirements at the time of filing his nomination forms.