NPP retains parliamentary seat in Abetifi by-election

Bryan Acheampong

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has retained its parliamentary seat in the Abetifi constituency.

 Its candidate, Bryan Acheampong won the by-election polling 14,015 votes representing 89.97% of the total votes cast. 

Vida Konadu Ennin of the Independent People’s Party (IPP) polled 469 votes to 439 votes for Edmund Ofori Nkansah of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the United Front Party’s (UFP) Kenneth Kotey Nikoi followed with 406 votes. 

The by-election, which was in accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution, was necessitated by the death of the former MP, Peter Wiafe Pepera, died on May 21 at the 37 Military Hospital where he was on admission. 

NDC absence 

The National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) Emmanuel Tabi had picked the EC nomination forms to contest in the constituency but didn’t file after the party decided not to contest the seat.

 Speaking to that decision to Citi News, the Constituency Chairman for the Abetifi, Gershon Afianyo said participating in this by-election just 3 months to the election would have been a waste of resources. According to him, “Looking at the time and how close the election into the general elections, we don’t think it is prudent for us to go into this election.” 

No NHIS registrants voted 

This by election was marred by allegations that Electoral Commission (EC) officers in the constituency permitted voters who registered with a National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) cards to vote in the Abetifi by-election despite the Supreme Court judgment declaring such registrants illegible to vote. 

The EC has since debunked reports that NHIS card registrants voted in the just ended Abetifi constituency by-election. The EC in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Eric Dzakpasu, said it did not have on record any persons in Abetifi who registered with the NHIS card in 2012.