A tight race is expected in Kumawu Constituency of the Ashanti Region today as voters go to the polls to elect a new Member of Parliament. The seat became vacant after the demise of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker, Phillip Basoah in March this year.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has assured that all electoral materials have been delivered to the various polling stations in time for the voting process to commence at 7AM. The EC has also changed the symbols of one of the two independent candidates to avoid confusion among voters.
The main contenders for the seat are Ernest Yaw Anim of NPP and Akwasi Amankwaa of National Democratic Congress (NDC). They are facing stiff competition from two independent candidates who share the same name and surname: Kwaku Duah. The first Kwaku Duah has a dove as his symbol, while the second Kwaku Duah has a farming instrument.
The by-election is seen as a precursor to the 2024 general elections as both NPP and NDC are keen to secure an edge in Parliament. The NPP currently has 137 seats while the NDC has 136 seats with one independent MP.
The National Peace Council has urged all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and credible election. The Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has also met with leaders of NPP and NDC ahead of the polls and deployed adequate security personnel to Kumawu.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama have both visited Kumawu over the weekend to rally support for their respective candidates. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has also interacted with NPP supporters and urged them to turn out in their numbers and vote for Ernest Yaw Anim.
