The Akwatia Constituency by-election, held on September 2, 2025, has moved into the vote-counting phase after polls closed at 5 p.m. across 119 polling stations in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The Electoral Commission (EC) is overseeing the collation of results, with party agents, security personnel, and independent observers present to ensure a transparent process. The by-election, triggered by the death of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament Ernest Kumi in July 2025, pits Solomon Asumadu of the NPP against Bernard Bediako Baidoo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with Patrick Owusu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) also in the race.
However, a surprising development occurred at the collation centre by 7:20 p.m. on election day. While NDC officials and agents were actively present, monitoring the tallying of votes, representatives from the NPP were noticeably absent, despite expectations that they would be there to oversee the process. This absence has raised questions about the NPP’s strategy and commitment to ensuring the integrity of the vote count in a constituency they are fighting to retain. The EC has not yet commented on the situation, and it remains unclear why the NPP officials and agents were not at the collation centre.
The Akwatia by-election has been a highly competitive and closely watched race, with both the NPP and NDC campaigning intensely to win the seat. Akwatia is known as a swing constituency, with a history of tight contests between the two major parties. Since 1992, the NPP has held a slight edge, winning the seat five times compared to the NDC’s four victories. The outcome of this by-election is seen as a test of the NDC’s dominance, given their supermajority in Parliament, and the NPP’s resilience as the opposition.
Tensions were reported earlier in the day, including a scuffle involving the NPP’s Third National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Osman Masawudu, who claimed he was slapped by an escort of an NDC official during an interview. Despite these incidents, the Ghana Police Service, with over 5,000 officers deployed, has maintained a strong presence to ensure peace during the voting and counting processes. The Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, commended the peaceful conduct of the election and promised reinforced security during the collation phase.
The absence of NPP agents could potentially impact their ability to verify results or raise objections if irregularities are suspected. Meanwhile, the NDC’s strong presence at the collation centre suggests they are closely monitoring the process to secure a possible victory. Early provisional results from select polling stations, as reported by other outlets, indicate that the NDC’s Bernard Bediako Baidoo is leading in several areas, but the race remains tight.
The Electoral Commission is expected to complete the collation and announce the official results later tonight or in the early hours of September 3, 2025. The outcome of this by-election will not only determine Akwatia’s next MP but also carry symbolic weight for both parties as they gauge their political strength ahead of future elections. More updates are expected as the situation develops.
