Voter turnout in the Ayawaso East by-election has been noticeably low, as over 40,000 registered voters cast their ballots to elect a new Member of Parliament.
The by-election was triggered by the passing of the constituency’s former MP, Mahama Naser Toure, who died after a short illness at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Five candidates contested the seat: Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Baba Ali Yusif of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ibrahim Iddrisu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), and independents David Kanor and Umar Sanda Mohammed.
Speaking after casting his vote, NDC candidate Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed attributed the low turnout to the ongoing Ramadan period, noting that the constituency has a predominantly Muslim population of over 90 percent who are fasting.
“Many residents are observing Ramadan, which may have affected their ability to visit polling stations today,” he said.
The Electoral Commission held an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting with political parties ahead of the by-election to ensure a smooth electoral process, while security personnel were deployed across polling centres to maintain order.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
