A candidate, Manasseh Sackey, who passed away a few weeks ago, has won the assemblyman elections at the Tebrebe Electoral Area at Tarkwa-Nsuaem.
Popularly known as Teacher Obour, he was the headmaster of Aboponiso M/A Junior High School and the incumbent assembly member seeking re-election in the Western Region.
The 34-year-old headteacher unfortunately drowned in a river near Aklika on Monday, December 4, 2023.
At the end of the elections, the late Manasseh Sackey polled 860 votes, securing re-election over his closest contender, Benard Obeng, who received 857 votes.
However, the Electoral Officer for the area, Ekow Essien, says the election will be held again due to the outcome.
“The law indicates that if a candidate dies, leaving only one candidate in the election, the electoral commission has to reopen the nomination for another 10 days and reschedule the voting within 21 days.
“However, if a candidate dies and there are still more than two candidates, the election can proceed as there is still a contest. So, despite the unfortunate event in the Tebrebe electoral area, we must proceed,” Mr Essien said.
Meanwhile, Teacher Obour’s wife has expressed gratitude to the residents who voted for her husband.
“Yesterday was the election day. Although people know he has passed on, they voted for him. That marvels me a lot. It means they love him, and they cherish whatever he came to do.
“He did a lot in his electoral area, putting people into apprenticeships; he did a lot, a lot. They appreciated whatever he came to do, and they were well convinced that whether he was dead or alive, they’d vote for him. We’re waiting for the EC, whatever the EC will say,” she said.
Waste of public funds!!!! If the EC and the general public was aware of his demise 2 weeks prior to the elections, they ought to have removed him from the list of candidates.
Now to the electorate, what is the wisdom in voting for a dead candidate to represent you?