Bernard Baidoo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has vowed to deliver on his promises after being declared the winner of the Akwatia by-election by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Baidoo described his victory as “a clear mandate” and pledged to prioritize the development needs of the constituency.
“We are grateful of the opportunity the people have given us, it’s a clear mandate and we will make sure we deliver,” he assured.
On the pressing issue of illegal mining in the area, Baidoo emphasized the importance of regulation rather than elimination.
“We can’t take away the mining, we only have to do it lawfully. Essentially it is about development, and we will deliver,” he explained, highlighting his intention to balance economic livelihoods with lawful practices.
The Electoral Commission declared Baidoo winner of the Tuesday, September 2, 2025, polls with 18,199 valid votes, defeating his closest rival Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who secured 15,235 votes.
The election was held following the passing of the constituency’s Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi, on July 7.
Despite more than 50,000 registered voters across 119 polling centres, turnout was lower than expected, a reflection of waning enthusiasm within a tense political atmosphere.
Pre-election projections by Global InfoAnalytics had signaled a narrow NDC lead, with a survey conducted between August 27 and 28 predicting 53 percent support for Baidoo against 47 percent for Asumadu. The survey identified unemployment, economic hardship, and poor access to social amenities as the main drivers behind voter choices.
Senior Analyst Salam Nsiah defended the credibility of the firm’s methodology, rejecting accusations of bias.
“We don’t massage poll; we have always been a credible polling firm,” he told ABC News GH. Nsiah added that undecided voters were unlikely to significantly alter the general voting patterns that the survey revealed.
The NPP had dismissed the poll results as biased and politically motivated, but the final EC declaration confirmed the accuracy of the projection.
Political observers believe the outcome reaffirms Akwatia’s status as a swing constituency and could be a preview of dynamics ahead of the 2028 general elections. While the NDC is celebrating what it sees as evidence of growing grassroots strength, the ruling NPP faces renewed calls to re-strategize in the Eastern Region, a stronghold it can ill afford to lose.
