Bernard Baidoo, the lawyer-turned-politician who emerged victorious in Tuesday’s closely watched Akwatia by-election, says the result reflects a clear endorsement of his message and campaign priorities.
Speaking after the Electoral Commission declared him winner, Mr. Baidoo said the outcome signals the electorate's alignment with his policy proposals and vision for the Eastern Region constituency.
“The people listened to the message we gave them, and they really imbibed it,” he told reporters. “They gave us hope — a kind of hope that has translated into this victory.”
Mr. Baidoo, who ran on a platform centered around economic revitalization and mining reform, described his campaign as strategically disciplined, eschewing distractions and focusing squarely on delivering a consistent message to voters.
“I’ve always said that when you go into a contest like this, you’ll hear a lot of noise. But I don’t focus on tangents,” he said. “The focus is on the main objective: deliver the message, let the people accept it, and victory will follow.”
While the campaign was not without controversy, Mr. Baidoo dismissed concerns that criticism or opposition tactics had affected the outcome.
“Some of these comments — if you’re not careful — can distract you. But we stayed on course. Elections were held, and we have the results,” he added.
Looking ahead, the newly elected Member of Parliament tied Akwatia’s economic potential to its historical role in Ghana’s mining sector, vowing to pursue development in accordance with legal and environmental standards.
“Akwatia’s name has always been synonymous with mining. You can’t take that away — but we have to do it lawfully. That’s what we’re going to work on,” Mr. Baidoo said.
He cited recent improvements at the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds (GCD) site as early signs of the constituency’s economic turnaround.
“Just before President Mahama came to power, the GCD site was in darkness. We had to use solar panels just to hold collation meetings. Today, we have electricity — and that was even before the by-election,” he said. “It’s a first step toward restoring the company and creating thousands of jobs.”
The Akwatia by-election was triggered by the death of the incumbent MP and was closely followed nationwide as a bellwether of shifting political momentum ahead of Ghana’s 2024 general elections.
