Justin Frimpong Kodua
General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has stated that the results of the recent Akwatia by-election would not predict the outcome of the 2028 general election, pointing to the changing voting patterns in the constituency.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Kodua emphasised that electoral outcomes were uncertain in that area given the history of Akwatia where candidates win with small margin.
“This by-election is not a reflection of what will happen in 2028. We knew it was going to be a very difficult contest for us following the death of our Member of Parliament (MP), Ernest Kumi, but the NPP has demonstrated great strength.
“In every election, it is either you win or you lose. The Akwatia seat is a swing constituency, and whichever party wins does so by a very small margin. For a party in government, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaigned mainly on development and told the people to vote for them based on that. That message helped them and influenced some parts of the constituency,” he stated.
He added that the ruling NDC campaigned heavily on infrastructure and development promises, which convinced most of the voters in the constituency.
According to the NPP General Secretary, 15,235 votes obtained by the NPP’s candidate reflect the party’s strength in the constituency despite the promises made by the NDC to develop the area.
“The 15,000 votes we had prove that the NPP is still very strong in Akwatia. I am very happy with the performance of our candidate and the support we received. We will be watching closely to see if the NDC will indeed bring the development they promised,” he added.
Mr. Kodua also commended the NPP candidate, Solomon Asumadu, constituency executives and members of the party for their support in spite of the loss, while thanking God for a peaceful election.
The NDC’s Bernard Bediako Baidoo won the Akwatia by-election with 18,199 votes, while the NPP’s Solomon Kwame Asumadu garnered 15,235 votes.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah