By Ruth Serwaa Asare
As voters in Akwatia head to the polls to elect a new Member of Parliament, political analyst and Social Watch member Kojo Asiamah Addo has reignited debate on Ghana’s by-election system, calling for constitutional reforms to save the nation time and resources.
Speaking on GBC’s special coverage of the Akwatia by-election, Mr Addo argued that when a parliamentary seat becomes vacant within a year after a general election, the winning party should be allowed to select a replacement rather than forcing the country into an expensive by-election.
“For me, if it is within one year after the election and someone passes away, I am of the strongest opinion that the party that won that seat should just handpick someone and say, ‘this is the one we are going with,’” he said.
Mr Addo admitted that democracy comes at a cost but insisted that the financial and administrative strain of by-elections often outweighs the benefits, particularly in the early stages of a parliamentary term. He stressed that parties already operate within constitutions and bylaws that set eligibility requirements. “It is not about handpicking just anybody. The person must be of sound mind, a Ghanaian, have no criminal record, and meet the Electoral Commission’s criteria. When that happens, I feel we should suspend all this wahala where government activities are halted just to focus on one constituency,” he explained.
Citing Article 112(5) and (6) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires a by-election within 30 or 60 days of a vacancy, Mr Addo urged a review of the law to reflect Ghana’s current realities. “Democracy is underpinned by the law. If we amend the law to suit our current situation, it is still democracy. We must do something about this provision. It wouldn’t hurt, looking at the issues associated with by-elections,” he argued.
He described the Akwatia poll as a potential “case study” for reform and noted that another by-election looms in Tamale North. “For me, let us amend the constitution so that we can save ourselves all this political wahala. People are cashing in, and resources are being drained. If parties can select qualified candidates within their constitutions and the Electoral Commission clears them, that is still democracy,” he concluded.
The Akwatia by-election, seen as a test of both party strength and electoral management, is also likely to fuel wider discussions on electoral reforms in Ghana.
