A section of Ghanaians has expressed strong concerns about the recent by-election, which allowed candidates from all political parties to contest. This has sparked a national debate, with many citizens arguing that in cases where a parliamentary seat becomes vacant, the political party that originally won the seat should be granted the sole right to nominate a replacement—rather than holding a fresh election open to all parties.
In response to the growing public discourse, Bryt FM conducted a survey to gather opinions from the general public. The results revealed that a majority of respondents support a constitutional amendment that would allow only the winning party from the general election to select a replacement candidate. However, a significant portion of the population opposed the idea, insisting that by-elections should remain open and democratic, allowing all eligible parties to participate.
One elderly man who spoke to Bryt FM expressed deep concern over the current system. He noted that organizing by-elections is financially burdensome for the country and often leads to tensions, violence, and misunderstanding among supporters. He argued that constitutional reform is necessary to reflect modern realities, emphasizing that “the world is changing, and Ghana must move forward too.”
On the other hand, a woman interviewed disagreed with the call for constitutional reform. She stressed that the current system should remain unchanged because people’s political preferences can shift over time. “Someone might have voted for the NDC in the general election, but by the time a by-election is held, they may have lost confidence in the party and want to vote for someone else,” she explained. “Voters should always have the right to choose, regardless of which party originally won the seat.”
Despite differing opinions, the majority of those surveyed agreed that the constitution should be reviewed to allow the political party that originally won the seat the authority to nominate a replacement—thereby eliminating the need for costly and potentially divisive by-elections.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Nana Agyenim Boateng Sikapa
