The Electoral Commission is ready to run the Akwatia by-election on September 2 barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Deputy Electoral Commission Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, has disclosed."As we speak, the nomination process of candidates for the various political parties is taking place at Akwatia after which time we will be informed accordingly, as per the rules governing by-elections," Dr Asare added.He disclosed that voting materials were ready and would be dispatched at the various constituencies polling centres and on time to carry out the exercise, following the death of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Ernest Yaw Kumi on July 7, this year.He was responding to The Ghanaian Times in an exclusive interview in Accra yesterday, on update of the election body's preparedness for the Akwatia by-election and other programmes lined up for the exercise.Regarding the sudden demise of the MP for Tamale Central, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed in the August 6 helicopter crash involving the loss of lives of seven other people, Dr Asare said the EC management was saddened about the unfortunate event.While expressing deepest condolences on behalf of the Commission, he said: "As usual in time of such situation of the death of an MP, it is the Clerk to Parliament who informs the EC through a formal letter of a vacant seat as a result of the passing of an MP.
We will then set the date for the by-election to be held in the affected constituency," the Deputy EC Boss told The Ghanaian Times.For now, he said the Commission was waiting to get the formal notification from the House "before we can set a date for the Tamale Central by-election." BY NORMAN COOPER
