NDC knocked out of Kwabre West parliamentary race

The Electoral Commission has explained it does not intend to re-open nomination for the National Democratic Congress to replace its jailed parliamentary candidate for Kwabre West.

The party's candidate, Pius Opoku Boateng was on Wednesday sentenced to twelve months imprisonment with hard labour for double registration, an electoral offence.

He was sentenced by a High Court at Offinso in the Ashanti Region after pleading guilty.

But the EC's Director of Public Affairs, Christian Owusu Pare told Joy News reopening of the nominations is out of the question. None of the scenarios that could engender that move is at play, such as the death of the only contestant or one of only two contestants in which the only surviving candidate would not be allowed to go unopposed. Death of a candidate itself may not be an excuse if there is more than one surviving contestant.

In this instance, the incumbent MP, Dr. Emanuel Owusu Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, is also facing challenges from the People's National Convention and the Convention People's Party.

The National Democratic Congress has indicated it would appeal against the incarceration of the candidate, who is also said to be a teacher for about 30 years.

Meanwhile the four presidential candidates who engaged in the first of two scheduled debates Wednesday evening are back on the campaign trail.

NPP's Nana Akufo-Addo has resumed his tour of the Greater Accra Region with a rally at Nungua in the Krowor constituency, while Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom of the CPP is at Ashaiman also in the Greater Accra Region speaking to electorates.

PNC's Dr. Edward Mahama is on his way to Wa in the Upper West Region where he would be seeking to convince the electorate to choose him and his party, and NDC's Professor Atta Mills is spending a little time in Accra to sort out administrative matters before hitting the road to the Brong Ahafo Region.

Story by Isaac Yeboah