In a closely watched contest held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emerged victorious in the Akwatia parliamentary by-election. The Electoral Commission officially declared Bediako as MP-elect, having secured 18,199 votes, equivalent to 54.3% of the valid ballots cast. His closest rival, Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), garnered 15,235 votes, while Owusu Patrick of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) trailed with a marginal 82 votes. A total of 33,516 valid ballots were recorded across 119 polling stations, alongside 303 rejected ballots.
The by-election was necessitated by the passing of the sitting MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi (NPP), earlier this year. As one of Ghana’s historically volatile swing seats, Akwatia drew intense campaign activity and national scrutiny. The NPP’s defeat marks a crucial shift signaling a regain of ground by the NDC in a constituency that has alternated between the two major parties.
Despite concerns around voter suppression and election-day tensions, the Ghana Police Service deployed more than 5,500 officers to maintain order. While isolated incidents such as the tearing down of campaign posters were reported and addressed, the electoral process concluded without widespread disruption.
The outcome offers a momentum boost to the NDC, with analysts interpreting the win as a bellwether for shifting voter sentiment ahead of the 2028 general elections.
