Solomon Kwame Asumadu, Bernard Baidoo
Private legal practitioner Bernard Baidoo has been elected as the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) candidate for the upcoming by-election in Akwatia in the Eastern Region.
He will be contesting the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Solomon Kwame Asumadu, who was unanimously endorsed by the party for the by-election slated for September 2, 2025.
The Akwatia seat became vacant following the sudden death of Member of Parliament for the area, the late Ernest Yaw Kumi, who is said to have suffered from cardiac arrest.
The NPP has already began campaigning in the constituency and hopes to win the seat that was occupied by them until the death of Kumi.
Vacancy
The Electoral Commission (EC) on July 30, 2025, declared the Akwatia seat vacant in line with Article 112(5) of the Constitution, which mandates a by-election when a parliamentary seat becomes vacant.
The EC, in a statement, noted that it will open nominations for individuals interested in contesting the by-election, indicating that nomination forms can be downloaded from its official website (www.ec.gov.gh) starting from July 30, 2025 through to August 13, 2025.
The statement further stated that submission of nomination forms will take place at the Denkyembour District Office from August 11 to 13, 2025, between 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm daily.
It pegged the filing fee at GH¢10,000 per candidate, while female candidates and persons with disabilities are to pay a reduced fee of GH¢7,500.
Kwame Asumadu
The NPP, on July 28, 2025, endorsed Solomon Kwame Asumadu, the Chief Executive of Owuo Mining Company, as its parliamentary candidate for the upcoming Akwatia by-election.
The Eastern Regional Chairman of the party, Jeff Konadu Addo, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Parliament, noted that the decision followed extensive stakeholder consultations, during which a proposal to organise a primary was overwhelmingly rejected in favour of a consensus-based approach.
“We commissioned research and gathered the names of all individuals who had expressed interest in contesting. After evaluating the findings, it was clear that Solomon Kwame Asumadu stood out as the most suitable candidate,” Mr. Addo said.
He pointed out that findings from the research were presented to the party’s National Council, which subsequently approved Asumadu’s candidacy.
“Today marks the official announcement of Kwame Asumadu as the NPP’s candidate for the Akwatia by-election,” he added.
Bernard Baidoo
The legal practitioner was elected as the NDC’s candidate after polling 380 votes to beat his close contender, Erasmus Ali Korney, who secured 366 votes.
Surprisingly, he defeated former Member of Parliament (MP) Henry Yiadom Boakye, whom he had represented at both the High Court in Koforidua and the Supreme Court in a case challenging the election of the late Ernest Kumi as the MP of the area. Mr. Yiadom polled 232 votes.
The lawyer was declared the winner by the regional Electoral Commission Director, Appiah Baffoe.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak