Bernard Bediako Baidoo Wins NDC Akwatia Primary

The Akwatia parliamentary by-election race is heating up following the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primary, where legal practitioner Bernard Bediako Baidoo was declared winner in a tight three-way contest.

Baidoo, a member of the NDC’s legal team and former counsel to ex-MP Henry Yiadom Boakye, polled 380 votes to beat Erasmus Ali Korney, who garnered 366 votes.

Boakye, who once held the Akwatia seat until his defeat in the 2024 general elections, trailed with 232 votes.

Baidoo’s victory was confirmed by the Eastern Regional Electoral Commission boss, Appiah Baffoe.

The by-election was necessitated by the sudden death of the sitting MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, in July 2025.

Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has endorsed Solomon Kwame Asumadu, CEO of Owuo Mining Company, as its candidate for the by-election.

The party’s Eastern Regional Chairman, Jeff Konadu Addo, made the announcement on July 28, 2025, during a press briefing in Parliament.

“We commissioned research and gathered names of all individuals interested in contesting.

“After evaluating the findings, it was clear that Solomon Kwame Asumadu stood out as the most suitable candidate,” he said.

Konadu Addo further revealed that the proposal for an internal primary was dropped after stakeholders agreed on a consensus approach.

“Today marks the official announcement of Kwame Asumadu as the NPP’s candidate for the Akwatia by-election,” he declared.

The Electoral Commission has scheduled the by-election for September 2, 2025, setting the stage for a crucial political showdown in Akwatia.

Analysis of the impending Akwatia by-election

With both the NDC and NPP having selected their respective candidates, the stage is set for what promises to be a closely contested by-election.

The NDC, which continues to claim victory in the disputed 2024 elections, had challenged the legitimacy of the late Ernest Yaw Kumi’s win.

Now holding an overwhelming majority in Parliament, the party is eager to secure this seat to reinforce confidence in John Mahama’s administration and prove that their claim to the previous victory was not unfounded.

On the other hand, the NPP sees this election as an opportunity to redeem its bruised electoral image and make a strong political statement.

Source: Liberalprint.com