Ofosu-Ampofo schools Ras Mubarak over holding by-election in Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency

Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has stressed that the holding of a by-election in the event of the death of a Member of Parliament (MP) was a constitutional matter.

According to him, the constitution was clear that a by-election was supposed to take place 60 days after the death of a sitting MP, saying that stance was non-negotiable.

Ofosu-Ampofo was reacting to a question on the call by an MP of the NDC, following the demise of Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko, the MP for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, that the party should not field a candidate but rather allow the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the party of the late MP, to find a replacement for him.

Article 112 (5) of the 1992 Constitution says “whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk of Parliament shall notify the Electoral Commission in writing within seven days after becoming aware that the vacancy has occurred; and a by-election shall be held within 30 days after the vacancy occurred except that where the vacancy occurred through the death of a member, the by-election shall be held within 60 days after the occurrence of the vacancy.”

Ofosu-Ampofo, stating the official position of the NDC, however, said “that is a constitutional matter.

The constitution plainly says there should be a by-election in 60 days and so that is not a decision for the party to make. The law says there should be a by-election and that is exactly what will be done.”

Ras Mubarak

The NDC MP for the Kumbungu Constituency in the Northern Region, Mr Ras Mubarak, had suggested to the NDC and other political parties not to put up a candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat.

His comment came after the death of the MP of the area, Kyeremanteng Agyarko, last Wednesday, November 21, 2016.

Mr Agyarko went to the United States to seek medical care.