IGP Storms Assin North Ahead Of By-election

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare arrived in Assin North today (Monday, June 26, 2023) to assess the security preparedness in the area for the by-election scheduled for tomorrow June 27, 2023.

The IGP is said to be meeting with representatives of the three main political parties contesting in the by-election.

Democratically, among the three main candidates representing the New Patriotic Party(NPP), National Democratic Congress(NDC), and the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), only one candidate at the end of the election will be given the mandate by the constituents to represent the Assin North constituency in parliament.

The three main candidates contesting in the by-election are candidate Charles Opoku(NPP), being the number one on the ballot paper, Bernice Enyonam Sefenu(LPG) occupying the second position on the ballot and James Gyakye Quayson(NDC) placing the third position on the ballot paper.

There have been several debates concerning the upcoming by-election.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in one of his campaigns in the constituency for his candidate told the constituents in Assin North not to vote for a candidate who is standing trial in court.

Addressing a gathering in the constituency on Sunday, June 25, the President said for the constituency to witness the needed development, a candidate with legal issues should not be voted for.

“They say even if Gyakye Quayson is in jail they will vote for him, are we going to vote for someone who is going to prison?”, he quizzed.

“What benefits will the people derive from voting for such a person? We want someone when he is voted for can come to me and plan how to develop the constituency.”

Former President John Dramani Mahama in countering the speech by President Akufo-Addo said the facts of cases involving Adamu Sakande, the late Bawku Member of Parliament who was sentenced to two years imprisonment after he was found guilty of false declaration of office, perjury, and the deposed Assin North lawmaker James Gyakye Quayson who is also standing trial for the same charges, are not the same.

Mr. Mahama urged the President not to deceive the people of Assin North to believe that the two situations are the same.

“Adamu Sakande went to prison because he lied and concealed his passport. Gyakye Quayson has not hidden his passport. Prior to voting for him in 2020, Canada had accepted that he was no longer a Canadian citizen, what crime has he done?”, he questioned.