Five candidates have successfully filed their nominations to contest the Ayawaso East by-election scheduled for March 3, following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Mahama Naser Toure, on January 4.

The race features Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Baba Ali Yusif of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), setting the stage for a keenly contested battle between the two major political parties.

Also in the contest are two independent candidates, David Kanor and Umar Sanda Mohammed, and Ibrahim Iddrisu, who is representing the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG).

The Electoral Commission (EC) officially closed nominations on Tuesday, February 11, at 5:00 p.m., with no indication that the deadline would be extended.

Greater Accra Regional Director of the EC, Gladys Penkrah, told the media that balloting to determine the positions of candidates on the ballot paper will take place on Thursday, February 13, ahead of the March 3 polls.