Bye-Election: A Necessary Evil

Since the 1992 Constitution came to being, a number of bye-elections have been held, sometimes producing some fascinating outcomes. Bye-elections have been held in, but not limited to Odododiodio, Asawase, Tamale Central, Kumawu, Offinso South and most recently, Fomena.

One issue that has been brought to the fore is the relevance of this constitutional exercise. Should the concept be perpetuated or done away with? This, I believe is an issue that demands an objective, non-partisan and constructive discourse.

Opponents of the continuous holding of bye-elections argue that the exercise is expensive. They contend that a developing country like Ghana should not be expending so much on such a seemingly unimportant activity when we lack the needed resources to improve our health delivery system, improve educational structures, among others.

They also argue that we vote for parties and not individuals. As such, if a candidate wins an election on the ticket of a political party, upon his untimely death or abdication of the seat through any means, the out-gone MP’s party should be allowed to make a replacement for him to serve the rest of the term. One of the strongest proponents of this position is Opanyin Kofi Agyekum of the Linguistics Department of the University of Ghana Legon, and a regular panellist of Peace 104.3 FM’s Kokrokoo morning show hosted by Kwame Sefa Kayi.

Those against bye-elections believe that with the colossal amount of monies involved in conducting a bye-election, the risks involved as some people incur accidents in the run-up to bye-elections, among others; the national interest should be considered as paramount to bye-elections.

In fact, the antagonists to the holding of bye-elections have a case and they are entitled to their opinions (after all that is the beauty of democracy). I however beg to differ from their claims as I see most of their arguments as flawed.

Talking of bye-elections as being expensive, who says democracy is cheap? Are we limiting the essence of bye-elections simply because of cost? As a country committed to the entrenchment of democratic ideals, it is incumbent on us to go the extra mile in our bid to achieving an ideal democracy. If we talk about postponing it until an opportune time, when will that be? Let’s remember that beginning is half done.

What is this talk about we vote for political parties and not individuals? Even in the advanced democracies, sometimes issues other than partisanship inform voting. In the case of floating voters, they vote for some MPs not because of the parties they come from but the character traits of the candidates in question. Have there not been instances where the votes of a parliamentary candidate have been more than the presidential candidate of the same party and vice-versa? Are we then going to denounce the votes and judgements of such people? Have we not had instances where the party of the out-gone candidate has lost a bye-election? Amenfi West, Bimbila, Wulensi, are but a few instances that come to mind. Would we have been justified if we had given the seats to the NDC simply because they were the holders of those seats?

If there is one reason for the need for bye-elections to identify the loopholes in the electoral system and laws, it is better amplified by the events surrounding the recently held-bye election in Fomena. For the electoral commission to make such a serious oversight for the 2004 general elections, and to have perpetuated it in the recently held district level elections through the use of what Mr Arhin of the Electoral Commission calls “a local arrangement” between the district office of the Electoral Commission and the parties concerned at the local level without the knowledge of the Commission and the parties at the national level is unpardonable. Were we to sit down for this anomaly to have been brought to light in the up coming 2008 general elections? Is this not a good platform to identify and right some of the lapses in our electoral laws and systems?

It is my considered opinion that inasmuch as there is a little window of opportunity for people to kick against the holding of bye-elections, the case for its continuous existence is overwhelming. It is my conviction that the exercise is a necessary evil. For anyone who shares a divergent opinion, I pause for reply!!!