The upcoming by-election in the Akwatia Constituency, scheduled for September 2, 2025, is drawing significant national attention as two main contenders prepare to face off for the vacant parliamentary seat. The by-election follows the sudden death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in July 2025. The race is now set between Bernard Bediako Baidoo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the NPP.
Bernard Bediako Baidoo, a legal practitioner and current NDC constituency secretary, secured his party’s nomination after winning a closely contested primary on August 4. He received 380 votes, defeating Rasmus Koneh Ali, who polled 366 votes, and former MP Henry Boakye Yiadom, who secured 226 votes. His selection was confirmed by the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, John Appiah Baffoe. Baidoo’s emergence marks a new chapter for the NDC in Akwatia, as the party seeks to regain the seat it lost in the 2024 general election.
On the other side, the NPP has settled on Solomon Kwame Asumadu as its candidate. Asumadu, Chief Executive Officer of Owuo Mining Company, was endorsed through a consensus process after extensive stakeholder consultations. According to Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Jeff Konadu Addo, the decision not to hold a primary was based on internal research and evaluations that showed Asumadu was the preferred choice among party members. His nomination was subsequently approved by the party’s National Council.
The Akwatia constituency has become a political hotspot ahead of the by-election, given its history of electoral swings and its strategic importance to both parties. The NDC had challenged the results of the 2024 general election in court before the passing of the MP, citing electoral irregularities. The by-election is now seen as an opportunity for the party to reclaim the seat. For the NPP, retaining the seat is viewed as crucial to maintaining its parliamentary strength and stability in the Eastern Region.
The Electoral Commission has assured the public of a fair and transparent electoral process on September 2.
