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James Gyakye Quayson, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), gained an early advantage in the Assin North constituency by-election as the Electoral Commission (EC) began tallying the results on Tuesday evening.
At 9:50 pm, the Electoral Commission declared Quayson the winner of the by-election with 17,245 votes, representing 57.56 percent of the valid votes cast. Charles Opoku, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, secured the second position with 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15 percent. Sefenu Bernice Enyonam, the candidate from the Liberal Patriotic Party (LPG), received 87 votes, representing 0.29 percent.
In the 2020 Parliamentary election in Assin North, Gyakye Quayson emerged victorious with 17,498 votes, defeating Abena Durowaa Mensah, the NPP candidate then, who garnered 14,193 votes.
As early as 6:30 pm on Tuesday, there were indications that Quayson was poised to retain the Assin North parliamentary seat.
Officials from the opposition NDC had previously released figures projecting James Quayson’s victory, leading to a joyous atmosphere among NDC supporters in the constituency. Many celebrated by covering themselves in white powder.
The Director of IT for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Eric Ntori, expressed the party’s acknowledgment of their loss at the collation center, stating that they will regroup and strategize for future elections. He emphasized the NPP will try to reclaim the seat in 2024.
The Assin area of the Central Region previously comprised two constituencies: Assin South and Assin North. For three consecutive terms, Prof Dominic Fobih and Kennedy Ohene Agyapong occupied the south and north seats, respectively, representing the NPP.
In 2012, the Electoral Commission divided the area, creating the Assin Central seat, which Kennedy Agyapong occupied.
In 2012, the NDC won the Assin North seat with Samuel Ambre.
In 2016, the NPP won the seat from the NDC with Abena Durowaa Mensah. However, in 2020, the NDC regained the middle with James Gyakye Quayson defeating the incumbent, Abena Durowaa Mensah.
Quayson was initially a dual citizen with allegiance to both Canada and Ghana. Before the 2020 parliamentary election, he initiated the process of renouncing his Canadian citizenship. However, he had not received his renunciation certificate when he filed with the EC to contest.
According to the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the 1992 Constitution, Quayson was still considered a Canadian citizen when he filed with the Electoral Commission to contest the 2020 election. He was deemed unqualified, leading to the annulment of the 2020 parliamentary election results in Assin North, and the seat was declared vacant.
As he later received his renunciation certificate before the 2020 election, Quayson became eligible to contest. The NDC allowed him to run again, while the NPP fielded Charles Opoku as their candidate.
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Source: Omanghana.com
