The Electoral Commission of Ghana has declared Bernard Baidoo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the winner of the Akwatia by-election.
According to certified results, Baidoo polled 18,199 of the total valid votes cast, defeating his closest rival, Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who secured 15,235 votes.
The by-election, held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, followed the passing of the constituency’s Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi, on July 7.
With over 50,000 registered voters across 119 polling centres expected to cast their ballots, turnout was lower than anticipated, reflecting waning enthusiasm amid the tense political atmosphere.
Ahead of the polls, Global InfoAnalytics projected a narrow NDC lead, forecasting Baidoo’s victory with 53 percent of voter support compared to 47 percent for Asumadu.
The survey, conducted between August 27 and 28 with a sample of 2,050 voters, highlighted unemployment, economic hardship, and poor access to social amenities as major concerns shaping voter decisions.
Senior Analyst Salam Nsiah defended the credibility of the survey, stating to ABC News GH that, “we don’t massage poll; we have always been a credible polling firm.”
Nsiah insisted that the results reflected sound methodology, dismissing suggestions of partisan influence. His comments directly countered criticism from the NPP, which described the data as biased and politically motivated.
The ruling NPP rejected the polling results in the run-up to election day, but the EC’s announcement confirmed the projection made by Global InfoAnalytics.
Nsiah further argued that undecided voters, though significant, were unlikely to overturn the broad patterns revealed by the survey.
The Akwatia constituency, historically regarded as a swing seat, has once again demonstrated its political weight.
Analysts believe the outcome could serve as an early indicator of electoral dynamics ahead of the 2028 general elections, with the NDC viewing the result as evidence of renewed grassroots strength and the NPP facing pressure to re-strategize in the Eastern Region.
