Abuakwa North by-election slated for April 5

Information available to Pulse.com.gh indicates that the Electoral Commission will hold the by-election in the Abuakwa North Constituency of the Eastern Region on April 5, 2016, to elect a new member of parliament.

The by-election will be held in accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution as amended.

It also stipulates that whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk to Parliament shall notify the Electoral commission in writing within seven days after the vacancy occurred, and a by-election shall be held within thirty days after the vacancy occurred. (6) Notwithstanding clause (5) of this article, a by-election shall not be held within three months before the holding of a general election.

See related: Parties gearing up for Abuakwa North by-election

This follows the sudden death of the Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa North constituency Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu, on February 9, 2016.
Mr JB Danquah was stabbed at his Shiashie residence in Accra, prompting the police to launch an investigation leading to the arrest of one suspect.

Read more: JB Danquah ‘killer’ suspect arrested

A source at the Police Command told Pulse.com.gh that the suspect, Daniel Asiedu was picked up at his hideouts.

He has been remanded into police custody.

The seat which has been the strong hold of the NPP was won by the NDC in 1992 when the the NPP did not contest the elections. It was occupied by Nana Akufo-Addo who was the member of Parliament in 1996.

The late JB Danquah won the seat in 2004 and 2012.

See also: NPP politicians in shock over JB Danquah’s death
NPP June primaries

During the NPP primaries in June 2015, the late JB Danquah contested and won against the only other contestant, Mr Kay Amoah Jnr, a lawyer by profession.