Political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo has opined that the victory of the National Democratic Congress candidate James Gyakye Quayson in Assin North by-election is not shocking as it reflects the general sense of disappointment in the government over the management of the economy.
He claims that the candidate was elected because of his widespread popularity, the controversy he stirred up, and the sympathy votes he received as a result.
“His popularity inched up, he got sympathy votes, and the general economic hardship also helped Gyakye Quayson… For me, I wasn’t surprised. I was rather surprised at the broad display of arrogance by the ruling party,” he said.
Mr. Gyakye Quayson easily defeated New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Charles Opoku and Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) candidate Bernice Enyonam Sefenu to reclaim the seat of Assin North in a by-election.
He was emerged victorious in the by-election that took place in Assin North on Tuesday, receiving 17,245 of the total valid votes cast. The official results were released by the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC).
The difference between his votes and the results in 2020 is greater than 1,300. Mr. Gyakye Quayson won that election with 17,498 votes, defeating his opponent, Abena Durowaa Mensah of the NPP, who received 14,193 votes.
As a result of a ruling from the Supreme Court in 2020, Mr. Gyakye Quayson’s election to Parliament was ruled to be unlawful, but he will still be allowed to assume his position.
