Politics

We Will Win Akwatia– Gbande Declares, Calls for Peace Ahead of By-Election

Published

2 weeks ago

July 14, 2025

Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has expressed firm optimism about his party’s chances in the upcoming Akwatia by-election, while urging the Peace Council to intervene to ensure a violence-free process.

“We will win the Akwatia by-election. There is no development there.

The Peace Council should intervene ahead of the elections to avoid any form of violence,” Gbande stated during an appearance on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen on Monday.

The by-election was necessitated by the sudden death of sitting Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi, a development that has cast a political spotlight on the Eastern Region constituency.

Kumi’s passing came just weeks after the Supreme Court overturned his contempt conviction relating to the disputed 2024 parliamentary election results.

In February 2025, the Koforidua High Court found Kumi guilty of defying an interim injunction that barred him from presenting himself to be sworn in as MP.

The court issued a bench warrant for his arrest, citing his repeated failure to appear before the court and his disregard for its authority.

The NDC is drawing momentum from its recent breakthrough in the Ablekuma North constituency, where its candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, made history by defeating the NPP’s Nana Akua Afriyie in a closely watched rerun.

The Electoral Commission’s certified results showed Aubynn polling 34,090 votes against Afriyie’s 33,881, with a voter turnout of 68,382 and 411 ballots rejected.

It was the NDC’s first-ever win in Ablekuma North since the inception of Ghana’s Fourth Republic in 1992—a symbolic victory the party hopes to replicate in Akwatia.

I am even feel that the NDC should withdraw from this election, as it would be harsh to win against the NPP.

They hold a supermajority in Parliament with 184 seats compared to the NPP’s 87.

Since the seat became vacant due to the passing of the NPP MP, and considering their dominance in Parliament, I believe the NDC has no business contesting the Akwatia by-election.