The New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, has picked up nomination forms to contest the July 12 by-election in the constituency.

Mr Acheampong who won the NPP primaries last year picked up the forms from the district office of the Electoral Commission in Abetifi Thursday morning. He is the first candidate to have gone for the form, TV3’s Yvonne Neequaye reports.

The seat became vacant after Member of Parliament for the constituency, Peter Wiafe Pepera passed away on Saturday, May 21. He died at the 37 Military Hospital and he is to be buried on Saturday, July 23.

The EC on Wednesday announced Tuesday, July 12 as date for the by-election in the constituency

There were uncertainties over a by-election in the constituency after major political parties expressed concerns that the exercise will be too close to the general elections.

But a statement issued by Deputy Electoral Commissioner Dr Amadu Sulley said nominations for the election will be taken between on Tuesday, June 21 and Wednesday, June 22.

The Kwahu East Electoral Officer Stella Sarpong told 3News all the necessary preparation has been put in place for the by-election, saying the commission is ready for elections.

The Abetifi Constituency has an estimated 43,773 voters. The figure excludes new registrants at the just ended nationwide limited voter’s registration exercise

Until he won the NPP candidature in Abetifi, Mr Acheampong on two occasions lost the bid to secure the nod to contest the parliamentary election on the ticket of the NPP in the Suhum Constituency.

He subsequently moved to Abetifi where he managed to win the last primaries of the NPP which the late Peperah, also an NPP MP, decided not to contest.

By 3news.com|Ghana