Solidare Ghana Calls on Government to Provide Account of Cost for Assin North By-Election
In a recent development, the political pressure group, Solidare Ghana, is demanding that the government be transparent about the funds expended on organizing the Assin North by-election. The spirited calls by Solidare Ghana are motivated by the fact that the embattled NDC MP of the constituency, James Gyakye Quayson, was affirmed as the choice of the masses in the by-election, despite facing criminal proceedings against him.
The Assin North by-election was necessitated by a Supreme Court ruling, which found Gyakye Quayson guilty of violating Ghana’s constitution by running for office while holding allegiance to Canada. According to the law, anyone with allegiance to countries other than Ghana is prohibited from being a member of Parliament.
Critics of the Supreme Court ruling argue that Gyakye Quayson had applied for the cancellation of his Canadian citizenship before contesting the election. By the time he was sworn into office, his Canadian citizenship had been revoked, making him eligible to serve as an MP. However, the Supreme Court maintained that he violated the law by running for election when his cancellation application was still pending.
Furthermore, it was revealed that Gyakye Quayson failed to duly inform the Electoral Commission of Ghana about his Canadian citizenship and the application to cancel it before being allowed to run for office. Surprisingly, the Electoral Commission did not appear in court to testify on this matter.
Following Gyakye Quayson’s removal from Parliament, the by-election took place on June 7, resulting in his victory with an even larger margin. However, the government has now initiated criminal proceedings against him, aiming to secure a jail sentence.
Solidare Ghana strongly believes that the entire by-election was unnecessary, resulting in a waste of time and scarce state resources. Consequently, the group is demanding accountability from the government regarding the funds expended, as well as the man-hours and human resources dedicated to organizing a by-election that essentially upheld the previous outcome.
By demanding transparency on the financial aspects of such unnecessary elections, Solidare Ghana hopes to shed light on the avoidable costs incurred by the state. This serves as a reminder of why it is crucial to avoid unnecessary by-elections of this nature.
It is worth noting that several government officials, including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, have openly expressed a belief that Gyakye Quayson will be jailed, despite the ongoing court proceedings. Solidare Ghana’s call for accountability may shed light on whether the government had vested interests in removing Gyakye Quayson from office, leading to the by-election.
Solidare Ghana’s demand for transparency and accountability sends a strong message to the government, emphasizing the need to conserve state resources and avoid unnecessary expenses. By providing insight into the cost of such needless by-elections, it aims to promote responsible decision-making and financial prudence within the political system.
As this issue continues to unfold, it is paramount for the government to address the concerns raised by Solidare Ghana and provide a comprehensive account of the expenses incurred. Only through transparency and accountability can trust and confidence be instilled in the electoral process and the governance of the nation as a whole.
