Copyright © 1999 Panafrican News Agency. All Rights Reserved.

March 27, 1999

ACCRA, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana's opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on
Friday retained its parliamentary seat in Accra, in a crucial by-election
that deprived the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) from obtaining
a two-thirds majority in the 200-member parliament.

NPP's Victor Okuley Nortey polled 15,210 votes in the Ablekuma Central
Constituency, according to provisional figures announced by the Electoral
Commission.

His closest rival, Ismail Safianu Bawa of the NDC polled 10,569 votes to
place second while Solomon Buyoga Sulemani, an independent candidate, came
third with 566 votes.

Musah Nartey of the People's National Convention (PNC) had 297 votes with
Hajia Fati Suraj of the Convention Party polling 254 votes.

In all, about 28,000 out of some 90,000 registered voters cast their votes.


However, the Electoral Commission said the result was provisional because
of a protest by NDC which said it was not satisfied with the conduct of the
vote.

Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the NDC, said there were blank sheets
and different inks on the sheets.

He alleged that a presiding officer at some polling stations was impeded in
the performance of his duties.

David Kanga, Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission in charge of
operations, said the commission will study the results and make its views
public at a later date.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of Mr. Clement Sammy Crabbe,
NPP Member of Parliament for the constituency.

A two-third majority would have given the NDC the power to amend some
sections of the constitution.
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