Akwatia Road Construction Continues Post-By-Election Amid Vote-Buying Allegations
In the aftermath of the Akwatia Constituency by-election on September 2, 2025, road construction projects in the Eastern Region of Ghana have continued, despite earlier accusations that these works were strategically timed to influence voters.
The by-election, prompted by the death of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament Ernest Kumi in July 2025, saw Bernard Bediako Baidoo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) emerge victorious, securing 18,199 votes (approximately 54% of the total valid votes) to reclaim the swing seat.
His closest competitor, Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the NPP, garnered 15,235 votes, while Patrick Owusu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) trailed with just 82 votes. Out of 33,819 valid votes cast, 303 ballots were rejected, according to the Electoral Commission’s certified results.
Reports from JoyNews indicate that extensive roadworks are ongoing in key areas of the constituency, including Kusi and Tarkrowase, the hometowns of MP-elect Bernard Bediako Baidoo’s parents. On September 3, 2025, a day after the polls closed, journalists observed active construction sites with tipper trucks delivering materials and graders preparing the ground for asphalting in both locations.
The continuation of these projects has reignited debates about their timing, as residents and observers had previously suspected the roadworks were initiated to sway voters in favor of the ruling NDC.
A contractor involved in the projects, speaking anonymously to JoyNews, revealed that the roads in question had been neglected for nearly seven years.
He explained that the current work operates under a daily contract arrangement, a model that allows for flexible, short-term labor agreements. While acknowledging that construction began less than a week before the by-election, the contractor firmly denied any political motivation, stating, “The timing had nothing to do with the by-election.”
He emphasized that the projects were part of long-overdue infrastructure improvements, though the sudden commencement on election morning raised eyebrows among locals.
The road construction controversy first surfaced when residents of Kusi reported hearing heavy machinery on the morning of September 2, as voting commenced. Many interpreted the timing as a political strategy by the NDC to curry favor with voters in a constituency that has long demanded better road infrastructure.
These suspicions were compounded by broader allegations of vote-buying during the campaign. NPP Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed accused the NDC of distributing money to voters, claiming he personally witnessed such acts and reported them to the police. Conversely, the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections, Rashid Tanko Computer, denied these claims, insisting that the party’s victory was based on policy and public trust, not financial inducements.
Some residents, particularly young women, openly admitted to Citi News that financial incentives often influence their voting decisions, though they noted a lack of such inducements in this by-election due to heavy police presence.
The Akwatia by-election was a high-stakes contest in a constituency known for its competitive electoral history. Since 1992, the NPP has won the seat five times, while the NDC has secured it four times, often with narrow margins.
In the 2024 general election, Ernest Kumi won the seat for the NPP by 2,063 votes, but legal challenges and a subsequent Supreme Court ruling added complexity to the constituency’s political landscape.
The NDC’s victory in this by-election strengthens their parliamentary supermajority (184 seats), while the NPP, with 88 seats, has vowed to regroup and analyze their defeat.
Despite the vote-buying allegations, the continuation of roadworks post-election suggests a commitment to addressing Akwatia’s infrastructure needs.
However, the timing of the projects remains a point of contention, with critics arguing that the NDC leveraged the construction to bolster their campaign. The NPP, through Eastern Regional Secretary Tony Osei-Adjei, graciously accepted the defeat, stating, “The constituents have spoken, so we take it in good faith.”
Meanwhile, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, the new MP, has promised to prioritize development and not take the mandate for granted.
As Akwatia moves forward under new representation, the ongoing road projects will be closely watched to determine whether they fulfill long-standing community demands or remain tainted by accusations of political opportunism. The by-election’s outcome and the surrounding controversies highlight the complex interplay of development, politics, and voter expectations in Ghana’s democratic process.
