The Assin North by-election came off on Tuesday, with James Gyakye Quayson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) being declared the winner by the Electoral Commission (EC).
The Returning Officer for the election, Kofi Tsibu, declared James Gyakye Quayson the winner after he polled 17,245 votes, representing 57.56 percent of the valid votes cast, with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Charles Opoku, coming in second with 12,630 votes, representing 42.15 percent.
The Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) candidate, Sefenu Bernice Enyonam, had 87 votes, representing 0.29 percent.
Addressing the media after his victory, Mr. Gyakye Quayson stated that his victory was for the conscience of right-thinking Ghanaians who were not misled by money.
First, we extend our congratulations to James Gyakye Quayson on winning the election. Once more, his victory significantly raises the country’s democratic standing.
We advise the NDC to celebrate its triumph with moderation, and the losing parties to return to the drawing board to re-strategise for 2024.
The Chronicle also commends the Ghana Police Service and the Military for ensuring peaceful and violence-free elections.
Despite the pockets of scuffles reported by the media, overall the election was peaceful. Also, in a statement released from Jubilee House, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, also congratulated the NDC for their win, and we think this depicts statesmanship from a leader of an opposing party.
We also congratulate the EC for a good job done, and for organising a smooth and peaceful election. The EC has always risen to the occasion, and we are particularly happy about how logistics were transported to polling stations, as well as the proper management of time.
The Assin North elections might have raised tensions over the period of campaigning, because Quayson decided to stand again, although he is facing criminal charges in court.
It is refreshing to read the congratulatory message from the NPP, which has accepted defeat honorably and has pledged its commitment to work with all stakeholders.
For us, we agree with the MP-elect when he said his victory was for the democracy of the country, a position President Akufo-Addo and the NPP also espoused in their separate statements.
It is our hope that both parties relegate their differences witnessed during the campaign and forge ahead for the development of the constituency.
We think that it will not be proper, and, in fact, it is unconstitutional, to deny the good people of Assin North, and any other part of the country, their share of the national cake for reasons that the seat is for the opposition.
We hope that the various developments that commenced before and during the campaign would continue to completion, because, if the government saw the need to expedite work on projects in the constituency ahead of the polls, there cannot be any justification based on the previous point that work would cease.
