As final results continue to be collated in the September 2, 2025, Akwatia by-election, early projections place the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, in the lead. The contest, triggered by the death of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament Ernest Yaw Kumi in July, has drawn national attention due to its potential impact on the balance of power in Ghana’s parliament.
Baidoo, a lawyer, secured the NDC nomination in the party’s August 4 primary. He faces Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the NPP and independent candidate Owusu Patrick. With over 50,000 registered voters expected to participate, turnout is being closely watched.
Akwatia’s reputation as a swing constituency adds weight to the outcome. The seat has alternated between the two major parties in recent elections,won by the NDC’s Henry Yiadom Boakye in 2020 and flipped to the NPP’s Ernest Kumi in 2024. The current by-election is therefore seen not only as a local contest but as a barometer of national sentiment.
Preliminary data from outlets such as GhanaWeb and polling firm Global InfoAnalytics suggest Baidoo is on track to win. According to an NDC Deputy Director of Elections and IT, the party deployed a “master plan” rooted in its 2024 performance, asserting that the NPP no longer holds inviolable strongholds.
Political analysts have framed the by-election as an early referendum on the NDC government’s performance, just seven months into its term. Security presence in the constituency has been heightened in response to the increased national interest.
Currently, the NDC holds a supermajority in parliament with 184 of 276 seats, compared to the NPP’s 88. A win in Akwatia would raise the NDC’s count to 185, further consolidating its legislative dominance. Conversely, an NPP victory would inch their total to 89, offering a modest but symbolically important gain.
The political stakes remain high, with another by-election scheduled for September 30 in Tamale Central, setting the stage for continued recalibration of parliamentary power in the months ahead.
Sankofaonline
