Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and flagbearer hopeful, Kwabena Agyapong, has called for a new political convention that avoids by-elections.
According to him, the death of a sitting Member of Parliament should not automatically trigger a by-election. Instead, he argued, the affected political party should be allowed to nominate a replacement without going through a contest.
“We must create a convention to ensure that a party that loses a member replaces the MP without a by-election,” he said.
Speaking on Nhyira FM’s Morning Show with Nana Kwadwo Jantuah, Mr. Agyapong described by-elections as a waste of state resources that add little to national development.
He stressed that the funds wasted on the Akwatia by-elections could be redirected to more productive sectors of the economy.
“By-elections are an unnecessary cost to the state which must be checked. Those monies can be used to develop other sectors of the economy,” he added.
Mr. Agyapong further urged politicians to shun greed and put the national interest above partisan considerations, warning that selfish politics fuels disunity and public dissatisfaction.
He emphasized the need for Ghanaians to be content with what they earn and avoid greed and corruption.