Bryan Acheampong wins Abetifi by-election
There was low turnout at the Abetifi by-election in the Eastern Region last Saturday. Out of the expected 43,318 registered voters, only 16,577 cast their ballot with majority of the voters being the elderly who were conveyed in taxis to their polling stations.
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Abetifi, like other settlements on the Okwahu Ridge, has most of its inhabitants living in the big towns and cities in the country and only congregate at home during Easter festivities and other social events.
However, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary candidate, Bryan Acheampong, emerged victorious to retain the seat for the NPP when he polled 14,015 representing 89.9 per cent while Vida Konadu Ennin of the Independent People’s Party (IPP) had 469 votes representing 3.91 per cent.
Kennedy Kotei Nikoi of the United Front Party (UFP) obtained 406 votes, representing 2.65 per cent with Edmund Nkansah of the Convention People’s Party getting 439 votes which represented 2.52 per cent.
Security
The election, held in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere, saw the 200 police personnel and the five patrol teams deployed at the 117 polling stations virtually on holiday with no incidents being recorded before, during and after the election.
True reflection
The Deputy National General-Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahene, who was an agent at the Community Centre polling station, described the results of the election as a true reflection of what was going to happen come December 7, 2016.
He, however, expressed disappointment that “our colleagues in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) failed to participate and added that “2016 will not be treated lightly at all”.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Nana Obiri Boahene said “ we need to get agents who will get all records right and well because each and every member of the party must sacrifice. We need to be vigilant”.
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“ This 2016, all of us must be on board. No matter your pedigree and substance in life,” he added.
He urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to always send electoral materials to polling stations before 7 a.m. in order not to delay the process.
Electoral Commission
The Eastern Regional Director of the EC, Madam Faith Amedzeke, who also spoke to the Daily Graphic, expressed happiness that no incidents were recorded and said she was hopeful that this would be replicated in the general election.
Post-victory speech
In a post-victory speech, the Member of Parliament (MP)-elect, Bryan Acheampong, thanked the people for the confidence reposed in him and said he was coming to work and support the development of Kwahuman.
He hoped his track record would also convince the people to retain and vote massively for him and Nana Akufo-Addo, come November 7, 2016.
One of the losing candidates, Vida Konadu Ennin, congratulated Mr Acheampong on his victory and gave a hint that she was going to work harder and come back strongly to surmount all challenges to snatch the seat from the NPP on November 7.