The Abetifi constituency parliamentary by-election will come off today [Saturday] to replace the late New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for the area, Peter Wiafe Pepera.
This by-election, which is in accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution, is being contested by candidates from four political parties. Bryan Acheampong will be contesting on the ticket of the NPP, Edmund Nkansah on the Progressive People’s Party’s ticket, Kenneth Nii Quaye for the United Front Party (UFP) and Vida Konadu Enim of Independent People’s Party (IPP).
EC using pre-deletion register
The District Election Officer for the Abetifi constituency, Stella Sarpong, has said all is set for the estimated 33,773 eligible constituents to cast their votes across 917 polling centres later today.
Despite the Electoral Commission (EC) recently releasing the list of NHIS registrants who have been deleted from the voters register, Mrs. Sarpong indicated that the EC will be using the pre-deletion register for the by-election.
She however said on Eyewitness News “we don’t have the problem with NHIS. Nobody’s name was deleted from our register.”
Police presence at all polling centres
The Police Commander for Abetifi, ASP David Kumah told Citi News security officers have been deployed to all polling centers.
“So far we have 917 polling stations so we have security at all the polling stations and for now we have a patrol team and a standby team,” ASP Kumah said.
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 them after the party had 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 will be 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.”
Death of former Abetifi MP
Peter Wiafe Pepera, died on May 21 at the 37 Military Hospital where he was on admission. The late lawmaker who died a fortnight after his 62nd birthday, was once a minister in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration before joining the NPP in 2001.
He was a Ranking Member on the Trade and Industry Committee in Parliament.
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