If Abuakwa North By-Election Record Low Turnout Blame EC - NPP

First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Eastern Region, Alhaji Umar Bondinga has expressed dissatisfaction at the preparation of the Electoral Commission before the by-election currently going on in the Abuakwa North Constituency following the death of Hon. JB Danquah.

Thousands of residents in the Abuakwa North constituency in the Eastern Region will today go to the polls to elect a member of parliament in a by-election.

The seat became vacant following the gruesome murder of Abuakwa North MP, JB Danquah Adu.

The MP, affectionately called JB, was stabbed to death at his residence at Shiashie in Accra by allegedly one Daniel Asiedu who is currently facing prosecution.

The Electoral Commission returning officer for Abuakwa North, Offei Danso, assured that all materials and logistics needed for a smooth exercise are ready for the polls.

But commenting on the preparation of the EC in the ongoing by-election, Alhaji Umar Bodinga bemoaned the poor work of the Electoral Commission in creating awareness of the by-election.

He added there is a fear there will be a low turnout in the exercise due to no advertisement placed to announce the date of the by-election.

He again revealed that his earlier rounds to inspect the election material in some electoral areas in the Abuakwa North Constituency showed that some materials were not ready to start voting on time.

“EC has done a poor work on sensitization about the Abuakwa North by-election. EC failed to create awareness about the Abuakwa North by-election, if it was not NPP that constantly go round to remind the constituents of the coming by-election. NPP is disappointed in the EC,” he chided.

He however proposed to the EC to set a specific time to start the general election in a uniform manner; emphasising on the use of helicopter to carry the election materials to those communities which usually experience delay in starting elections.