The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has retained the Ejisu parliamentary seat as its candidate, Kwabena Boateng, polled 27,782 votes, representing 55.79 per cent of total votes cast in Tuesday’s by-election.
His closest contender, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, a former three-time Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu, who contested as an independent candidate, secured 21,536 votes, representing 43.24 per cent of total votes cast.
Esther Osei of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), got 89 votes, representing 0.2 per cent, and Beatrice Boakye of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), polled 149 votes, securing 0.3 per cent.
The others are Gabriel Agyemang Joseph, an independent candidate, who had 222 votes, representing 0.4 per cent, and Attakorah Joseph, also an independent candidate, had 23 votes, representing 0.05 per cent.
The by-election was keenly contested, following the demise of the MP for Ejisu, and Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr John Ampontuah Kumah, on March 7, this year. However, voter turnout was low.
Mr Boateng thank his supporters for electing him as MP for Ejisu, and appealed to the people to support him to bring development to the area.
He promised to interact with the people at the grass roots, identify their problems, and together find solutions towards development.
In another development, the Electoral Commission (EC) had to withdraw two of its officials, George Sasu, presiding officer, and Regina Serwaa, a ballot issuer, following allegations of bribery.
Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations at the EC, issued and signed a press release on the bribery allegation.
The statement said during the by-election, the EC’s attention was drawn to a video circulating on social media, showing an individual dropping an envelope on the table manned by a presiding officer and a ballot issuer at the Fumesua Pentecost Church Polling Station with code F311503.
Dr Serebour Quaicoe, the EC’s Director of Electoral Services, urged Ghanaians not to condemn the officers involved until investigations into the issue are conducted.
During the election, there were allegations of vote-buying levelled by Mr Aduomi against the NPP.
However, Mr Henry Nana Boakye, the NPP’s National Organiser, dismissed the claims, labelling them as an attempt to gain sympathy votes.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
