Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election ongoing despite NDC’s announced withdrawal

The Electoral Commission (EC) says it will go ahead with the Ayawaso West Wuogon Parliamentary by-election despite the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) decision to withdraw its candidate, Mr Delali Kwasi Brempong, from the race.

The Greater Accra Regional Director of the EC, Mr Kwame Amoah, said the by-election will go on because it has not received any official communication from Mr Brempong.

According to him, per the rules of the game, a candidate can only withdraw from the race, prior to the election.

NDC withdrawal

Chairman of the NDC, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, told journalists on Thursday that the party, in consultation with Mr Brempong had decided to withdraw from the race following a shooting incident at the La Bawaleshie Presbyterian Primary One A Polling Station; and alleged attacks on the residence of Mr Brempong.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo alleged that eight of their members were injured with two of them being in critical condition.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo alleged that the presence of some members of the security unit, which was involved in the incident at the other polling stations, was intimidating to their agents.

Elections disrupted

According to Mr Amoah, although the skirmishes led to the disruption of voting at the Bawaleshie Presbyterian One Polling Station for about 45 minutes, it has since resumed.

He said, his tour of the other 136 polling stations in the Constituency indicated that voting was going on peacefully.

Source: Graphic online