The Electoral Commission has allowed persons who registered with National Health Insurance (NHI) cards on the voters register to vote in the ongoing Abetifi by-election.
The move by the EC comes days after it announced the deletion of 56,900 NHIS registrants from the voters register in compliance with orders of the Supreme Court. It follows a protracted impasse over the credibility of the voters register ahead of the 2016 elections.
It however unclear why officials of the EC allowed the NHIS registrants to vote in the by-election.
A total of over 43,000 persons are expected to cast their vote in the Abetifi by-election which is being held today (Saturday) to elect a new Member of Parliament for the area.
The election has become necessary following the death of Hon. Peter Wiafe Peprah, who was MP for the area. Voting which is taking place in 117 polling stations across the constituency.
The late MP, who died on Saturday, 21st May, was first elected as Member of Parliament for the Constituency in 2008 and was retained in the 2012 elections.
Today’s by-election is seen by political watchers as a mere formality for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate, Bryan Acheampong as he has no stiff opposition especially as the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has boycotted the election.
Acheampong is contesting candidates of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Independent People’s Party (IPP) and the United Front Party.
The Abetifi Constituency Parliamentary seat has remained the preserve of the opposition NPP as the party has occupied it since the constituency was created.
