Primaries to elect a candidate for the upcoming by-election in Ayawaso East Constituency are currently underway today, Saturday, February 7.

The primary is currently underway amid a high deployment of police officers at the Nima Cluster of schools to ensure the maintenance of public order and ensure a free, transparent electoral process.

A total of 1,039 delegates are expected to vote between two polling centres, A and B. Centre A has 544 registered voters, while Centre B has 495.

This has become necessary following the death of the Constituency Member of Parliament, Mahama Naser Toure who gave up the ghost after a short illness on January 4, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Process before the primary today

The primary follows a successful vetting process that cleared all five aspirants who filed nominations to contest the seat. The vetting exercise was conducted at the party’s Greater Accra Regional Office.

After the vetting, the aspirants were balloted for their positions on the ballot paper ahead of today’s vote.

The cleared candidates, in the order of balloting, are Mohammed Ramme, the NDC Constituency Chairman; Amina Adam, widow of the late Member of Parliament; Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria; Yakubu Azindow; and Najib Mohammed.

During a media engagement, the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the NDC, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, lauded the aspirants for their cooperation and compliance throughout the process, adding that the party had urged all contenders to conduct their respective campaigns respectfully and responsibly

He said the party had encouraged all contenders to campaign peacefully and responsibly to ensure a successful outcome to the primary.

Widow of late MP part of seat contenders

The filing closed with the wife of the late MP being the last to pick the forms. He said, “At the close of nominations today, six persons picked nomination forms to contest the upcoming primaries. The wife of the late MP was the last person to pick nominations today. It is going to be a very interesting contest.”

Explaining her decision in a statement issued on Thursday, January 22, Hajia Adam indicated that she is heeding calls from constituents, party grassroots members, and traditional elders, adding that these individuals want her to carry on the work of her late husband.

“There has been a clarion call from many quarters in my constituency and beyond for me to step into the shoes of my late husband. After deep reflection and consultations, particularly with elders and grassroots members, I have accepted the call to serve my people,” she stated.

According to her, after reflecting on the calls, she has decided to heed them, emphasising, “I want to assure them that I will not disappoint them.”

Meanwhile, individuals seeking to contest the Ayawaso East parliamentary primary in the Greater Accra Region are required to pay a filing fee of GH₵40,000.

The amount is intended to help the party cover the cost of organising the primaries, including administrative and logistical expenses. This was disclosed in a press release issued by the party on January 20, 2026.

Aspirants are also required to purchase nomination forms at a cost of GH₵5,000 and submit the completed forms to the party’s Greater Accra Regional Office. Meanwhile, female aspirants and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) will benefit from a 50 per cent reduction in the filing fee.

This will be the third time the country has had a rerun of elections after the 2024 general polls. Ablekuma North had remained the only constituency in Ghana without a sitting MP due to unresolved disagreements over the outcome of the parliamentary vote.

In a statement dated January 16, 2026, and signed by the EC’s Deputy Chairman for Operations, Samuel Tettey, the Commission explained how interested persons can contest the election.

Nominations will be accepted at the EC’s Ayawaso East Municipal Office in North Ridge from Monday, February 9, to Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Submissions will be taken between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.

Aspiring candidates can download nomination forms from the EC’s website, www.ec.gov.gh/forms, starting Friday, January 16, 2026. Completed forms must be submitted in four copies and can be presented by the candidate, or by their proposer or seconder, during the nomination period.

Each candidate must be supported by a proposer and a seconder who are registered voters in Ayawaso East, along with eighteen other registered voters from the constituency. Candidates are also required to submit two recent passport-size photographs with a red background.

A filing fee must be paid as part of the process. General candidates are to pay GH¢10,000, while female candidates and persons with disabilities will pay a reduced fee of GH¢7,500. The fee is non-refundable.

The EC stated that the by-election is being held in accordance with Article 112(5) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates an election to be conducted when a parliamentary seat becomes vacant. The Commission has called on the public to take note of the information as it works to ensure a free, fair, and transparent by-election.