The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has announced that it will hold the Abetifi by-election on July 16, 2016, in order to pave the way for the planned exhibition of the provisional register of voters scheduled to start on July 18.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Peter Wiafe Pepera, on May 21 this year.

The EC in a short statement signed by Eric Kofi Dzakpasu, Head of Communications, said: “It is announced for the information of the general public that the Commission will now hold the Abetifi by-election on Saturday, July 16, 2016. The polls will open at all polling stations from 7:00am and close at 5: 00 pm”.

“The change of date is necessary to make way for the planned exhibition of the 2016 Provisional Voters register, which is scheduled to start from Monday 18th July 2016.”

The statement further stated: “All contesting parties have been given due notice of the change and the Commission has put in adequate measures in place to ensure a smooth electoral exercise.”