Concerned citizen gives EC seven-day ultimatum over Anyako by-election delay

Mr Gilbert Korbla Keklie, a Human Rights Advocate, in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Electoral Commission, demanding immediate steps to conduct a long-overdue by-election at the Anyako Electoral Area in the Municipality.

In an official demand notice dated Thursday, June 4, 2026, addressed to EC Chairperson Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, and sighted by the Ghana News Agency, Mr Keklie invoked Section 10 (7) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and Article 45(b)(f) of the 1992 Constitution as legal basis for his demand.

Mr Keklie, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, later argued that the EC has blatantly failed to honour constitutional and statutory obligations owed to the people of Anyako electoral area, after the assembly member’s seat became vacant and triggered the mandatory 30-day window for a by-election.

“I am an Advocate on Human Rights Matters, Anti-Corruption Crusader, and Tertiary Education Consultant; we cannot wait and stay aloof and see this misappropriation happen,” he said.

He explained that in his notice, the EC was fully aware of the vacancy at Anyako Electoral Area but failed to organise the by-election within 30 days as required under Section 10 (7) of Act 936, without offering an explanation to the electorate.

The advocate also stated that the EC’s failure has unconstitutionally deprived residents of their fundamental right to duly elected representation in the Assembly, which further violate both the Local Governance Act and Article 45(c)(f) of the Constitution.

“In my petition, l revealed to the EC twice before, on August 14, 2025, and September 8, 2025, demanding the by-election, but the Commission neither conducted the poll nor acknowledged receipt of his letters. This l think is a deliberate act to ignore the rights of the people of Anyako Electoral Area.”

He expressed indignation at what he termed the EC’s contemptuous silence and added that such administrative irresponsibility from a constitutional body undermined public confidence in Ghana’s electoral management machinery.

Mr Keklie in invoking Article 41(b) of the Constitution, demanded that the EC initiate concrete steps within seven days to comply with Section 10(7) of Act 936 and Article 45(c)(f) by arranging the Anyako by-election.

He served notice that failure to act within the stipulated period would compel him to initiate legal action at the appropriate courts to compel the EC to restore democratic representation to Anyako residents.

The Electoral Commission had not issued any official statement at the time of filing this report, and GNA was unable to reach EC officials for comment.

The development is expected to draw attention from legal practitioners and civil society groups, who argue that timely by-elections are essential for Ghana’s decentralised governance and protection of citizens’ right to local representation.

Other information GNA gathered revealed that Mr Wisdom Seade, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Keta was the Assembly Member of Anyako Electoral Area, before he was elected as the MCE, while he further tendered his resignation letter as the assembly member of Anyako some months ago.

The Anyako Electoral Area, has been without Assembly Member for over a year now, and many citizens have demanded for by-election to be organised by the Electoral Commission of the area to elect new assembly member to represent them in the Assembly’s affairs and decision makings.

GNA