Bernard Bediako Baidoo
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has annexed the Akwatia parliamentary seat after its candidate, Bernard Baidoo, emerged victorious in yesterday’s fiercely contested by-election.
Provisional results from 116 out of 119 polling stations showed Mr. Baidoo securing 17,495 votes, defeating the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Solomon Asumadu, who polled 14,345 votes.
The outcome represents a significant gain for the NDC, which wrested the seat from the NPP in an election closely monitored across the country.
Jubilant supporters of the ruling party poured onto the streets of Akwatia late last night, waving party colours and chanting victory songs.
For the NPP, the result was a setback, as Mr. Asumadu had campaigned vigorously to retain the seat for his party. Akwatia has long been considered a political battleground, switching allegiance between the two major parties at different points in the Fourth Republic.
Analysts had predicted a close contest, and the outcome is being read as a measure of voter sentiment just months into President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Praise for a Peaceful Poll
Speaking after the close of polls, the NDC’s Director of Elections, Rashid Tango Computer, commended the police and other security agencies for ensuring a violence-free process.
“I said it this afternoon, we were going to have a very peaceful election, and thank God we had a very beautiful, peaceful election. We have to thank the IGP and his group for delivering this. They did a good job, and we pledged our support for them,” he said.
He stressed that any minor disturbances did not occur at polling stations and therefore did not affect the credibility of the vote. “Clearly, that tells you the police were up to the task,” he noted.
Tango Computer also expressed confidence in the outcome even before the official declaration, citing the party’s internal collation of results.
“Out of 119 polling stations, we have already collated 116. The NDC has 17,495, and the NPP has 14,345. We have finished. We are just waiting for the Electoral Commission to validate the figures,” he said.
Victory for Democracy
According to the NDC elections director, the result was more than a constituency win; it was an endorsement of the ruling party’s stewardship under President Mahama.
“This is a victory for democracy and a vote of confidence in the performance of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama over the past eight months. The people of Akwatia have spoken, and they know Bernard Baidoo is one of their own. He has worked with them for years and will deliver on development because we are in power,” he declared.
He dismissed opposition claims of vote-buying, insisting that the NDC’s victory was genuine and built on credibility.
“The people believe in us. If money alone could win elections, the NPP would never have lost in 2024. Ghanaians saw through their promises and placed confidence in the NDC. Today, Akwatia has endorsed that confidence,” he said.
Why Akwatia Matters
The Akwatia Constituency, located in the Eastern Region, has often been described as a “swing seat” in Ghanaian politics.
Historically, the seat has alternated between the NDC and NPP, making it one of the most hotly contested constituencies in the country. It is also politically symbolic, as victories there are seen as indicators of broader voter sentiment in the region.
In 2024, the NPP managed to capture the seat in a tightly fought race, though the result was later disputed by the NDC. With the latest by-election, the ruling party has now reversed that outcome, tightening its grip in the Eastern Region and strengthening its overall parliamentary majority.
Political observers say the NDC’s win could have far-reaching implications. It provides the party with fresh momentum as it prepares for the next general elections, while simultaneously placing pressure on the NPP to reassess its campaign strategies in constituencies once considered safe or winnable.
Smooth Electoral Process
The by-election was conducted under heavy security, with police and other agencies maintaining visibility across the constituency. Electoral officials confirmed that voting and counting proceeded smoothly, with no major incidents reported at polling stations.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, earlier expressed confidence that the ongoing Akwatia by-election will serve as a benchmark for peaceful and credible polls in the country.
Speaking to the media after touring the constituency to assess security arrangements, the IGP said the process was unfolding smoothly and in line with expectations.
“Everything is going on smoothly as planned, and that is what we expect to do; we want to make sure that at the end of the day, we have a very smooth and peaceful election,” he stated.
Mr. Yohuno praised the professionalism of security personnel deployed to maintain law and order during the exercise.
According to him, the high-level involvement of senior officers has strengthened the security presence and ensured close supervision on the ground.
“I am very satisfied with the performance of my men on the ground. This election is such that we have all regional commanders, all POMAB members taking part on the ground. They are all on the field and working with the personnel. Everything is going on very well,” he noted.
The Police Chief assured the public of the Service’s unwavering commitment to delivering safe electoral processes, stressing that violent incidents that marred previous elections would not be repeated under his watch.
He cited the disturbances at Ablekuma North during an earlier poll as an example of lessons learnt.
“Ablekuma North violence is a thing of the past. We are moving forward. As I assured you, this one will be an election that will set a tone for future elections,” he emphasised.
The Akwatia by-election was necessitated by the death of the sitting Member of Parliament. Over 52,000 registered voters were expected to cast their ballots across 119 polling stations in the constituency.
Looking Ahead
Although the Electoral Commission, at the time of filing this report, was yet to release the certified results, the margin of victory leaves little doubt. Once confirmed, Bernard Baidoo will officially be sworn in as the new Member of Parliament for Akwatia.
For his supporters, Mr. Baidoo’s victory is the culmination of years of grassroots work. Known for his service as Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC and his involvement in youth employment programmes, he is widely regarded in Akwatia as a familiar figure who understands the challenges of the constituency.
A Daily Guide Report