Private legal practitioner Kofi Bentil has renewed calls for the complete abolition of by-elections in Ghana, suggesting that Members of Parliament who vacate their seats due to death or other reasons should be replaced automatically.
Reacting to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) decision to withdraw from the upcoming Tamale Central by-election, Mr Bentil described the move as “smart” and “sensitive,” and urged other political parties to reciprocate.
“This is what a smart, sensitive political party does. I hope reciprocated. And as I’ve said in the past, I hope by-elections are scrapped altogether. Well done NPP,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Responding to a comment, he argued that elections are not always necessary, noting that the UK replaces prime ministers without fresh polls.
The NPP’s decision, announced in a statement signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, followed a National Steering Committee meeting on August 11.
According to the statement, the decision was influenced by the “circumstances” surrounding the death of Tamale Central MP Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed in the August 6 helicopter crash, stressing the need to avoid political tensions during national mourning.
The party added that the best way to honour Dr Muhammed and the other crash victims was to intensify the fight against illegal mining and ensure a peaceful, non-contentious process to fill the vacant seat.
Source: AdomOnline
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