Richard Ahiagbah Alleges Deliberate Tactics by NDC Led to Low Turnout, Costing NPP Victory
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has attributed its loss in the closely contested Akwatia by-election on September 2, 2025, to alleged voter suppression tactics by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
NPP Communications Director Richard Ahiagbah made the claims during an interview on Joy News on September 3, asserting that the NDC’s actions created fear and panic, deterring voters and skewing the election outcome.
“We believe that our victory lay in turnout, and if people had come out in a manner we anticipated, we would have won that election. But a systematic effort by the NDC to suppress the vote created fear and panic,” Ahiagbah stated. He pointed to an incident involving NDC National Vice Chairman Sofo Azorka, describing it as a violent attack that intimidated voters.
“Sofo Azorka, in a very violent way, accosted an individual who had not said anything to him except to give an interview… his people slapped him,” Ahiagbah recounted, noting that such actions heightened tensions and discouraged voter participation.
The by-election, triggered by the death of NPP MP Ernest Yaw Kumi in July 2025, saw NDC candidate Bernard Bediako Baidoo secure victory with 18,199 votes against NPP’s Solomon Kwame Asumadu’s 15,235 votes, a margin of 2,964. A third candidate, Patrick Owusu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), garnered only 82 votes. The total votes cast were 33,819 out of 52,328 registered voters, reflecting a turnout of approximately 64.6%, lower than the 70% recorded in the 2024 general election.
Ahiagbah argued that the lower turnout was a direct result of NDC-orchestrated intimidation, particularly citing the scuffle at the Akwatia Lorry Station Polling Centre involving Azorka and NPP’s Third National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Osman Masawudu. “The implication of that is that it heightens tension in the environment and, in most likely situations, created fear and panic for most of the people who could have come out to vote,” he added. Despite police intervention to restore calm, Ahiagbah insisted the incident had a chilling effect on voter turnout.
The NDC, however, has dismissed these allegations. Earlier in the campaign, NDC Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande emphasized the party’s commitment to peace but warned against any attempts to intimidate its supporters, stating, “If anybody decides to come to the voting grounds with violence, they will come, but they will not know how to leave.” The NDC’s victory was attributed to strong grassroots mobilization and support from young voters, with analysts noting the party’s effective campaign strategy in the swing constituency.
Ahiagbah maintained that the result does not reflect the NPP’s true strength in Akwatia, a historically competitive constituency that has alternated between the two parties since 1992, with the NPP holding a 5-4 edge before this election. He also referenced broader campaign challenges, including what he called “galamsey politics” by the NDC, accusing them of leveraging illegal mining issues to sway voters.
Despite the setback, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua and Director of Elections Evans Nimako downplayed the loss, asserting it is not indicative of the party’s prospects for the 2028 general elections. Meanwhile, questions have arisen within the NPP about candidate selection, with some, like Palgrave, asking why former MP Ama Sey was not fielded.
The Electoral Commission reported a generally peaceful election, with 5,500 police officers deployed to maintain order across 119 polling stations. A minor scuffle at the Akwatia Lorry Station was swiftly contained, and one arrest was made for tearing down campaign posters. The NDC’s win has bolstered its parliamentary majority, now at 183 seats, while the NPP’s share dropped to 87.
Ahiagbah’s claims of voter suppression remain contentious, with no independent verification of widespread intimidation. The Akwatia by-election, while not altering the NDC’s two-thirds parliamentary majority, has intensified the rivalry between Ghana’s two major parties, setting the stage for heightened political tensions ahead of 2028.
