The Progressive People's Party (PPP) says it will contest upcoming by-elections in the Akatsi South and Buem constituencies to be held on February 5, 2013 February 26, 2013 respectively. The Akatsi South seat became vacant due to the elevation of the MP, Mr. Doe Adjaho, to the position of Speaker of Parliament, while that of Buem constituency is also vacant following to the Christmas Day death of Mr. Henry Ford Kamel, who was also the Volta Regional Minister. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has, however, indicated that it will not contest the two by-elections. A statement issued on Sunday by the party’s General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie said until further notice, the NPP will not participate in elections conducted by the Electoral Commission. According to the statement, the decision was reached by the National Executive Committee (NEC) at a leadership meeting last week in response to concerns over the nature of the petition challenging the 2012 presidential elections. However, in a release issued Monday by National Secretary Kofi Asamoah Siaw, the PPP said that even though the party has reservations about the conduct of December 2012 elections, it has resolved to contest the two vacant seats. The statement said, the party will continue to push for fundamental reforms in the way elections are organized in Ghana. “Our participation in the two bye-elections will give many people who have come to join the PPP since December 7, 2012 the opportunity to help spread the party’s progressive, centrist ideology. We call on all our members, supporters and well-wishers to contribute money, campaign materials and their time to make our participation in these two by-elections successful”. Meanwhile, the PPP said it is yet to receive a response from the EC with respect to a letter requesting to meet officials at the EC and discuss further the problems that the party encountered in the 2012 elections.