By Isaac Arkoh/Prince Acquah
Assin-Bereku (C/R), June 28, GNA – The National Democratic Parliamentary Candidate, Mr James Gyakye Quayson has won the Assin North by-election.
The votes collated by the Electoral Commission (EC) and declared by its returning officer on Tuesday night, had the embattled candidate winning with 17,245 votes, which represented 57.56 per cent of the valid votes cast.
He was flanked by Dr Serebour Quaicoe, the Director of Electoral Services and Mrs Gladys Pinkrah, the Central Regional Director of EC.
Mr Charles Opoku, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, polled 12,630 votes representing 42.15 per cent.
Sefenu Bernice Enyonam, the candidate of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), could only manage 87 votes, representing 0.29 per cent.
There was spontaneous jubilation by supporters of Mr Quayson even before the EC’s declaration.
Assin Bereku, the District capital was set agog by jubilant NDC members, supporters, faithful, well-wishers, and sympathizers even before Electoral Commission (EC) made the official declaration.
The polls were largely peaceful, watched by the heavy police presence, with the NPP and NDC deploying high-level officials as polling station agents.
Assin North had 41,169 registered voters with 99 polling centres and the turnout was generally high.
The presiding members of various polling centres described the election as peaceful, credible and transparent and commended the media and police for their contributions.
The Assin North by-election follows the Supreme Court’s declaration that the election of Mr Gyakye Quayson in December 2020, with his swearing-in as a Member of Parliament in January 2021, was unconstitutional, null, void, and of no legal effect.
This is because, at the time of filing his nomination with the Electoral Commission to contest the parliamentary election in 2020, he held a dual nationality as a Ghanaian and Canadian.
The voting process was generally peaceful. However, two persons were arrested for allegedly interfering with the voting process.
Before the start of the tension-packed election, EC officials together with the political party agents, thoroughly examined the electoral materials at each polling station and agreed on the position of the voting booth.
GNA