Ghana’s two major political parties—the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC)—are ramping up efforts in the Akwatia constituency ahead of a closely watched parliamentary by-election scheduled for September 2.
The by-election follows the death of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the NPP Member of Parliament for Akwatia, who passed away on July 7. His seat now becomes a political battleground as both parties aim to consolidate influence in the Eastern Region.
The NPP has already thrown its support behind Solomon Kwame Asumadu, Chief Executive Officer of Owuo Mining Company Limited, as its candidate. The party moved swiftly to endorse Asumadu, aiming to maintain its hold on the seat.
The NDC, meanwhile, has scheduled its internal primaries for August 4. Nominations opened on July 28 and are set to close on July 30, with candidate vetting expected on July 31. Three contenders have so far declared interest in representing the NDC: former MP and 2024 candidate Henry Boakye Yiadom, local assembly member Erasmus Koney Ali, and Bernard Bediako Baidoo, a lawyer who currently serves as the party’s constituency secretary.
Although the NDC currently holds a supermajority in Parliament, party leaders insist the Akwatia contest remains a strategic priority.
“If it’s raining, would the sea say ‘I already have water, so the rain should stop?’” said Comfort Doyoe, First Deputy Majority Whip, in an interview with 3News on July 29. “Akwatia needs an MP who can lobby effectively. There’s significant development coming under the John Mahama administration, and the people of Akwatia should benefit from that.”
Doyoe argued that electing an NDC representative would ensure stronger ties to government initiatives. “If you’re an MP in the majority, you can start lobbying early. Voting for the opposition only slows your constituency down,” she said.
She expressed confidence that the seat would swing in the NDC’s favor, pointing to an even electoral history between the two parties. “We’ve each taken it twice since the constituency was divided. It’s a 50-50 seat. This is a done deal—unless the people of Akwatia decide they don’t want progress.”
With campaign activities expected to intensify in the coming weeks, political observers anticipate a competitive race, one that could serve as an early indicator of voter sentiment ahead of Ghana’s 2028 general elections.
