The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) is expected to conduct a by-election within 30 days for the Kumawu parliamentary seat in the Ashanti Region after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, declared it vacant.
The declaration of the seat vacant, in accordance with Article 112 (5) of the 1992 Constitution, follows the demise of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Philip Atta Basoah on Monday, March 27, 2023.
The constitutional provision states that “Whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk of Parliament shall notify the Electoral commission in writing within seven days after the vacancy occurred, and a by-election shall be held within 30 days after the vacancy occurred”.
On the floor of Parliament on Friday, the Speaker urged the Electoral Commission to trigger the constitutional imperatives to organize a bye-election in the area.
“Acting on your behalf and direct instructions to the Clerk of Parliament, we formally communicated to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the unfortunate departure of our colleague which has led to the occurrence of a vacancy in the House,” the Speaker said.
“I have asked the Clerk to write to the Electoral Commission of the unfortunate departure of our colleague which has led to the occurrence of a vacancy in the House,” he added.
By the provisions of the Constitution, the polls are expected to be held within 30 days of the declaration of the seat vacant.
Mr Basoah, 54, was a former District Chief Executive for Kumawu and a third-term Member of Parliament.
He was spotted in Parliament on Thursday, March 23, 2023, ahead of the crucial vote for the approval of the six ministerial nominees.
Until his death, Mr Basoah was the chairman of the Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises Committee.
