In the heart of Ayawaso East, one of Accra’s most politically vibrant constituencies, voters went to the polls yesterday with high expectations but delivered a familiar outcome: a clear win shaped by strikingly low public participation.
More than 49,000 registered voters were eligible across 113 polling centres. Yet when counting finished late Tuesday night, only 17,048 ballots had been recorded, including 120 rejected votes. The turnout — well under half of the electorate — once again exposed a recurring trend in Ghana’s by-elections: strong loyalty from committed party supporters contrasted sharply with widespread apathy among the wider population.
When the Electoral Commission declared the final tally, the result was never really in doubt. Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed of the National Democratic Congress won convincingly with 10,884 votes, roughly 64 percent of the total cast. His performance reaffirmed the NDC’s deep-rooted strength in the constituency.
Yusif Ali Baba of the New Patriotic Party finished second with 4,009 votes, about 23 percent. Independent candidate Mohammed Umar Sanda polled 1,885 votes, while Ibrahim Iddrisu and Kanor David trailed far behind with 43 and 104 votes respectively.
The by-election was called to replace the late Mahama Naser Toure, whose death in January created the vacancy. Despite the low energy surrounding the poll, voting proceeded peacefully, with electoral officials and security personnel present at every centre.
For the NDC, the result solidifies its hold on Ayawaso East and signals that its grassroots machinery remains effective even in quieter contests. Party leaders have hailed the outcome as a vote of confidence in their direction and policies.
The NPP, meanwhile, faces another reminder of how difficult it is to break into long-established strongholds. Despite being the main opposition force nationally, the party struggled to close the gap in a constituency it has targeted for years.
Smaller parties and independents once more found little room to grow, underscoring the continued dominance of Ghana’s two major political traditions in highly polarised urban seats.
Beyond the numbers, the most telling story of the day was the silence of the absent majority. With turnout so low, many residents appeared unconvinced that the result would bring real change to their daily lives. Economic hardship, political fatigue and the perception that by-elections are largely symbolic exercises kept large numbers away.
Political observers say the pattern points to a deeper disconnect between electoral processes and people’s everyday realities. While general elections still draw huge crowds, by-elections are increasingly seen as low-stakes events, especially in areas where one party enjoys clear historical dominance.
Civil society groups argue the trend demands urgent attention. They are pushing for stronger voter education, more meaningful community engagement and reforms that make local polls feel relevant to ordinary citizens.
For both major parties, Ayawaso East offers a dual lesson: loyal bases remain reliable, but the shrinking pool of active voters poses a long-term challenge to the vibrancy and legitimacy of Ghana’s democracy.
Until participation improves, by-elections in places like Ayawaso East are likely to keep producing clear winners against a backdrop of quiet polling stations and unheard voices — quietly raising serious questions about the health of participatory politics in Ghana.
