The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has maintained its hold on the Ejisu seat and its majority position in Parliament, with its parliamentary candidate Kwabena Boateng declared the winner in the recent Ejisu by-election held on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Boateng secured 55.8 percent of the total votes cast, defeating his closest rival, former Ejusi MP Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, who ran as an independent candidate and received 43.3 percent of the votes.
Beatrice Boakye of the Liberal Party obtained 0.3 percent, while Esther Osei of the Convention People’s Party got 0.2 percent. Independent Candidates Joseph Agyemang and Atakora Joseph received 0.2 percent and 0.0 percent, respectively.
However, the election was not without controversy, as reports of vote-buying, confiscation of identification cards, and other electoral malpractices emerged during the polling.
The Electoral Commission (EC) took action by suspending two officials accused of accepting a bribe during the Ejisu by-election.
The accusation involved Kingsley Nyarko, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, who was captured in a viral video handing what appeared to be an envelope to the EC officials.
Kingsley Nyarko has denied allegations of attempting to bribe electoral officers and expressed his willingness to fully cooperate with any investigations.
Background:
Six candidates were cleared by the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest in the Ejisu by-election in the Ashanti Region. The seat had been vacant since March 7, 2024, following the death of its Member of Parliament, Dr. John A. Kumah.
Nominations officially closed on Thursday, April 18, with six candidates, including two females and four males, successfully filing their nominations and being cleared to contest.