Tag: by-elections

  • EC sets Nov 11 for by-elections on vacant local seats

    EC sets Nov 11 for by-elections on vacant local seats

    By-elections in selected Electoral Areas and Unit Committees nationwide will be conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday, November 11.

    The elections will take place in over 1,500 polling stations across multiple regions, including Greater Accra, Ashanti, Volta, Central, Eastern, Bono, Ahafo, Western, Western North, and others.

    This information was contained in a press statement signed by the Chairperson, Jean Mensa.

    According to the Commission, the nomination process will commence on Monday, October 6, and end on Thursday, October 16. Submission times are from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Individuals who wish to contest must submit completed nomination forms in quadruplicate, accompanied by two recent passport-sized photographs with a red background.

    “In accordance with the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) with Amendment (Act 940), the Electoral Commission will on Tuesday, 11th November, 2025, conduct By-Elections for vacant Electoral Areas and Units arising as a result of the deaths or resignations of a number of Assembly and Unit Committee Members.

    “Nomination Forms may be obtained free of charge at the District Offices of the Electoral Commission or downloaded from the Electoral Commission’s website (www.ec.gov.gh/forms) from Monday, 6th October to Thursday, 16th October, 2025,” parts of the statement read.

    It added that qualified individuals will be those whose nominations have been endorsed by a certain number of local residents. The upcoming elections are in line with the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), as amended by Act 940, to fill vacancies created by the resignation or death of Assembly Members and Unit Committee Members.

    “Completed Nomination Forms must be delivered in quadruplicate by the Candidate personally or by the Proposer or Seconder, together with two (2) copies of a recent bust-sized photograph against a RED background, to the Returning Officer of the Electoral Area for which the Candidate seeks election from Monday, 13th October to Thursday, 16th October, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each day,” it added.

    Some of the notable districts and communities where elections will take place include Ablekuma Central, Weija-Gbawe, La-Nkwantanang, Adenta, Cape Coast, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Mfantseman, Jomoro, Ellembelle, Nzema East, and Sekondi-Takoradi.

    The others are Asuogyaman, Yilo Krobo, Suhum, New Juaben, Adansi South, Obuasi Municipal, Bosomtwe, Offinso North, Keta, Ketu South, Ho, and Afadjato South.

    Find the list of all vacant Electoral Areas and Units with the corresponding number of polling stations below:

    Ghana recently witnessed a by-election this year on Tuesday, September 2. The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Bernard Bediako Baidoo was declared Member of Parliament (MP)-elect for the Akwatia Constituency.

    He polled 18,199 votes to beat the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Solomon Kwame Asumadu, who secured 15,235 votes. According to the Returning Officer of the Electoral Commission (EC), the total votes cast were 33,819, with 33,516 valid votes and 303 ballots rejected.

    The EC, on Tuesday, September 2, held a by-election in 119 polling stations within the Akwatia Constituency to provide constituents with a representative following the sudden passing of their former MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi.

    Ernest Kumi was confirmed dead on Monday, July 7, 2025. At the time of his passing, he had served the constituency for only six months.

    On Tuesday, September 2, more than 50,000 registered constituents in Akwatia cast their ballots to select an MP to represent the constituency in Parliament.

    The NDC elected legal practitioner Bernard Bediako Baidoo to contest the election, while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) selected the Chief Executive of Owuo Mining Company, Solomon Kwame Asumadu, as its parliamentary candidate for the by-election.

    However, David Ankomah, who sought to contest on the ticket of the Action People’s Party (APP), was disqualified by the Electoral Commission (EC) for failing to submit his tax clearance certificate. As a result, the disqualified candidate filed a lawsuit against the Electoral Commission.

    He has challenged the EC at the High Court for excluding him for failing to submit his tax clearance certificate. Ankomah argued that the Commission gave him too short a notice to produce the certificate through the Akwatia District Electoral Officer, which caused the delay in providing the required document.

    Additionally, he maintains that he completed all the necessary processes needed to participate in the race. He further prayed the Court to suspend the by-election until the case is determined.

    Meanwhile, over 5,500 police personnel were deployed to Akwatia to ensure law and order during the by-election. The police grouped the constituency into nine security zones to ensure effective coverage.

    About 600 officers were fully armed to swiftly respond to any disturbances that might occur during the exercise. Prior to the election, the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party allegedly refrained from signing a peace pact.

    This followed claims by the NPP that the NDC’s representatives presented constituency executives instead of national-level executives to sign the agreement.

    NPP National Organizer Henry Nana Boakye told reporters that the NDC had shown reluctance to commit to the peace declaration, accusing the party of deliberately stalling the process.

    Speaking to the media after the failed engagement, a Board Member of the Peace Council, Sheikh Armeyaw Shaibu, said, “In the spirit of mutual dialogue and mutual respect, the two parties agreed that we should suspend the meeting.”

    The by-election did not witness much chaos, unlike that which occurred during the Ablekuma North rerun election. In the coming days, constituents of Tamale Central will vote to elect a representative to Parliament.

  • Zimbabwe voters participate in contentious by-elections

    Zimbabwe voters participate in contentious by-elections

    Zimbabwe is having elections to fill vacant positions, but some people are trying to keep the main opposition candidates from running. This is happening as President Emmerson Mnangagwa strengthens his power.

    The vote happened because some CCC MPs had lost their seats.

    This was made by someone who said they were the leader of the party.

    The result could make the government have a very large majority.

    The CCC didn’t win the general election in August but they got more than 100 out of 280 seats in parliament. This means that the ruling Zanu-PF party was not able to win enough votes to have the power to make changes to the constitution.

    Some people think the party made these by-elections happen in places where it recently lost on purpose.

    The CCC has a lot of fighting among its members and the current crisis seems to be mostly caused by the CCC itself.

    This is important because President Mnangagwa’s party needs just a few more seats to have a strong majority in parliament.

    Once it passes that limit, changes to the constitution can be made. It wouldn’t be surprising if people start talking about getting rid of the limit on how long a president can serve.

    Six years ago, many people in Zimbabwe thought that when Robert Mugabe was removed from power, the country would become more democratic.

    It is surprising that some in the opposition seem to be helping the president gain more power.

    In October, Sengezo Tshabangu, who was not well-known in Zimbabwe, wrote a letter to the head of parliament saying that some CCC members were no longer part of the party.

    The leader of CCC, Nelson Chamisa, said that Mr Tshabangu is not real and asked the speaker to not pay attention to the letter.

    But Mr Chamisa was not listened to when the speaker announced that there were empty positions in the areas. The by-elections on Saturday happened as a result of that.