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Kumawu by-election: EC dismisses notice of poll circulating on social media
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The Electoral Commission (EC) has described as fake the a notice of poll circulating on social media platforms claiming to be related to the upcoming Kumawu by-election.
The notice, which has been widely shared purported to be an official announcement from the EC has the photos of two independent candidates, wearing kente cloth and the said candidates have the symbol of a bird.
However, the EC in a statement issued on Sunday clarified that no such notice has been issued by their office.
While categorically indicating that the story is untrue, EC urged the public to disregard it.
“For the information of the Public, both Independent Candidates presented photographs of
themselves in kente and a picture of a bird as their symbol to our District Officer in Kumawu.
Based on this, a draft Notice of Poll, bearing the photograph of the Independent Candidates with
similar names, attires and symbols was prepared and submitted to the Commission for approval.
“It was neither approved by the Commission nor gazetted. A notice of poll becomes legal and
binding only after it is gazetted. The version circulating on social media was never gazetted. It
was a mere draft reflecting the photographs and symbols presented to the District Officer,” parts of the statement read.
The EC further noted that it had to apply the Public Elections Regulations and assign the second independent candidate a hoe as his symbol after he refused to heed advice to change his symbol.
“When this anomaly came to the notice of the Commission, the second Independent Candidate
was advised to change his symbol since he was the last to submit his Nomination Form. He
refused to do so causing the Commission to apply Regulation 14(1) (b) and (c) of the Public
Elections Regulations, 2020, C.I. 127.”
The EC assured the public that they are actively investigating the origin of the fake notice and will take appropriate action against those responsible for its creation and dissemination.
They also reiterated their commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections in Ghana and emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
The Commission further urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious or misleading information related to elections to the appropriate authorities.
As the Kumawu by-election approaches, the EC reassured voters and stakeholders that they are fully prepared to organize a smooth and credible electoral process.
It emphasised their commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring that the will of the people is accurately reflected through legitimate and lawful means.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.
In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.
The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.
UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.
The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.
It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.
UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.
The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.
The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.
Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.
By: Jacob Aggrey
