Kofi Bentil, a Senior Vice President of IMANI-Africa and lawyer, has said Ghana is about to waste money on another pointless by-election.
According to Kofi Bentil, when a member of parliament passes away, the party he or she belongs to must simply replace him or her unless that person is an independent candidate.
He reminded the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee of his suggestion.
Kofi Bentil is quoted to have said, “Dear H. Kwasi Prempeh, Remember my suggestion that when an MP passes, his party should simply replace him unless he is an independent candidate?? We are about to waste money pointlessly in another bye-election.”
His comments follow the death of Naser Toure Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East.
Reports suggest the NDC MP passed away at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital after a period of illness.
According to multiple sources, Naser Toure Mahama is said to have died on Sunday, January 4, 2026, in the afternoon.
The late Naser Toure Mahama was a fourth-term MP and held several key roles in Parliament.
He served as Vice Chairman of the Energy Committee, and a member on the Roads and Transport Committee, the House Committee, and the Private Members’ Bills and Motions Committee.
Under that, Ghana’s Constitution Article 97 mandates parliament to declare an MP’s seat vacant, with Article 112 mandating that the Clerk of Parliament notify the Electoral Commission (EC) of a vacant seat due to death, resignation, expulsion, or other constitutional grounds like joining another party.
The Electoral Commission (EC) then triggers a by-election within 90 days, unless the vacancy occurs within three months of a general election.
This is to ensure a continuous representation and the people’s right to choose their MP.
Meanwhile, the late Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East has been laid to rest on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Mahama Naser Toure was laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.
A Janazah prayer was held at 10:00 a.m at the NDC Ayawaso East Constituency Office by the National Chief Imam.
It was attended by family members, colleagues, party officials, and residents from the constituency.
After the prayers, the body of the late member of parliament was conveyed to the Madina Cemetery, where he was buried in line with Islamic tradition.