David Ankomah, the disqualified parliamentary candidate who was running on the ticket of the Action People’s Party (APP) in the Akwatia by-election, has dismissed claims that he failed to meet his tax obligations, describing the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to disqualify him as unfair.
His response follows a suit he has filed at the Accra High Court, seeking to halt the upcoming by-election scheduled for September 2, 2025.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Citi FM/Channel One TV’s Akwatia Watch on Tuesday, August 26, Mr. Ankomah insisted that he has consistently fulfilled his tax obligations and had submitted the necessary documentation to the EC during his registration to contest the seat.
He further argued that the EC’s reversal of his candidacy after the ballot process was unjust
“We have completed balloting, and the EC has agreed that I am a candidate. I followed all the due process and qualified. After printing the ballot papers, EC reached out to me to present my tax clearance certificate.
“Meanwhile, while I was registering to contest the elections, I made it known to the commission that I pay direct tax. Taxes are deducted even before I receive my monthly earnings. The EC accepted my documents. Then I had not gone for my Tax Clearance Certificate from GRA, but I presented my payslip to the commission as proof that I pay tax,” he stated.
The Akwatia by-election was triggered by the passing of the constituency’s Member of Parliament, Ernest Kumi, who died recently after a short illness.
Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are already on the ground with intensive campaigns, the NPP seeking to retain the constituency’s dominance while the NDC pushes to flip it in its favour.
APP candidate files suit to halt Akwatia by-election over disqualification
