Kumawu by-election notice of poll - Ashanti Region
The electoral commission of Ghana has issued a final notice of Poll ahead of Kumawu by-election.
The Electoral Commission (EC) set May 23, 2023, as the date to conduct the Kumawu By-Election in the Ashanti Region.
The by-election follows the death of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Philip Basoah, on March 27th, 2023 after a short illness.
The department of public affairs of the Commission issued an official statement today 21st May, 2023 to effect, an earlier criticized Notice of Poll circulating on social media purporting to be that of the Kumawu By-Election.
According to the Commission, the Notice of Poll has the photos of two Independent Candidates, wearing kente cloth.
The said Candidates have the symbol of a bird.
The commission further ascend that, both Independent Candidates presented photographs of themselves in kente and a picture of a bird as their symbol to the District Officer in Kumawu.
The public affairs department responded that based on this, a draft Notice of Poll, bearing the photograph of the Independent Candidates with similar names, attires and symbols was prepared and submitted to the Commission for approval.
They however disagreed that It was neither approved by the Commission nor gazetted. “A Notice of Poll becomes legal and binding only after it is gazetted. The version circulating on social media was never gazetted. It was a mere draft reflecting the photographs and symbols presented to the District Officer”.
They further raised allegation that when this anomaly came to the notice of the Commission, the second Independent Candidate was advised to change his symbol since he was the last to submit his Nomination Form.
According to them, he refused to do so causing the Commission to apply Regulation 14(1) (b) and (c) of the Public Elections Regulations, 2020, C.I. 127 which states as follows:
14 (1) “Where an election is contested, the Commission shall, as soon as practicable after the nomination day; (b) allocate to a candidate who is not sponsored by a registered political party a symbol, colour or combination of colours chosen by that candidate; or (c) allocate a symbol, colour or combination of colours that the Commission considers appropriate in any other case”.
They then said the Commission has assigned him the symbol of a hoe which is reflected in the Notice of Poll posted throughout Kumawu.
The electoral commission however assured the Public that the Commission will not tolerate acts that are at variance with its regulations and which have the potential of undermining its hard earned reputation and integrity, said.
The approved and gazetted Notice of Poll for the Kumawu By-Election is attached.
Read full statement below
