The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has settled on Ophelia Hayford to succeed her murdered husband Ekow Quansah Hayford as the parliamentary candidate for the Mfantseman Constituency.
According to sources, the party sent a letter to the Electoral Commission on Monday to invoke portions of CI 127 to allow a 10-day extension of the nomination period within which it would file for her to contest for the Mfantseman seat.
The provision states, “Where at the close of the nomination, but before the election one of the candidate dies, a further period of 10 days shall be allowed for nominations.”
Mr Quansah Hayford was shot by persons believed to be highway robbers in the early hours of October 9, on the Abeadze Dominase – Abeadze Duadzi – Mankessim Road on his return from a campaign trip.
According to Adom News’ Kofi Adjei, the widow has received massive support from the residents of Mfantseman to succeed her husband.
The reporter said during President Akufo-Addo’s visit on Monday, the people chanted “No Wife, No Vote” as a sign of solidarity and support for her.https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/05s2HyVf-bOZsmy48.html
Mrs Ophelia Hayford is currently an Assistant Superintendent of Police and has to resign from the Ghana Police Service to accept her new role
The residents believe she has the potential to take up the work begun by her husband.
They also cautioned the General Secretary John Boadu and the NPP through their chants not to bring any representative aside Mr Ophelia, Hayford else there would be no voting exercise taking place in the Mfantseman Constituency.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has charged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure that the killers of late Mfantseman MP are apprehended.
He said the murder of Ekow Quansah Hayford, “is a big blow to me and this is why I have made it known to the IGP that if nothing is done about this particular matter, what will happen will happen.”
The President said this during his visit to the bereaved family where he noted that the unfortunate occurrence is a test case for IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh.
Nana Akufo-Addo announced that government will assume the responsibility of catering for the widow and her children.
He added that the family will also be supported in giving the late MP a befitting burial.
