Akwatia Constituency By-Election: A Swinging Seat in Ghana's Eastern Region

Strategic Insights -

Ghana's Akwatia constituency, a diamond-rich hub in the Eastern Region, is set to hold a crucial by-election on September 2, 2025, following the death of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi. The contest between the NPP's Solomon Kwame Asumadu and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, is expected to be closely contested, given the constituency's history of swinging between the two parties. Since 1992, the NPP has held a narrow 5-4 edge over the NDC in parliamentary elections, making Akwatia a bellwether for national trends.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Akwatia constituency has a history of swinging between the NPP and NDC, with the NPP holding a narrow 5-4 edge since 1992.
  • The constituency has experienced electoral controversies, including a re-run in 2009 and a contested win in 2024, highlighting the importance of the upcoming by-election.
  • The NPP has nominated Solomon Kwame Asumadu, a 40-year-old licensed small-scale miner and 2008 All Nations University graduate, as their candidate, while the NDC has selected Bernard Bediako Baidoo, a 40-year-old lawyer and constituency secretary.
  • A Global Info Analytics poll (August 1-2, 2025) shows Asumadu leading 49.7% to Baidoo's 43.8%, within a 2.7% margin of error, indicating a tight race.
  • The by-election is seen as a test of President Mahama and the NDC's government, as well as the NPP's opposition resilience, with a possible impact on the ruling majority in Parliament.
  • The NDC currently holds 184 seats in Parliament, with the NPP having 88, and four independent candidates, making a total of 276 seats in the 9th Parliament.
  • The Electoral Commission has set September 30 for the Tamale Central by-election, which the NPP has announced it will not contest in.

Statistics:

  • 1992: The NDC's Gilbert Kwasi Agyei won the Akwatia seat unopposed, with the NPP boycotting parliamentary elections nationwide. [1]
  • 1996: The NDC's Alhaji Mohammed Erzuah Siam defeated the NPP's Dr Kwame Kyei Baffour, winning 17,900 votes to Baffour's 8,575, with a margin of 9,325 votes. [2]
  • 2000: The NPP's Kinston Akomeng Kissi captured the seat against the NDC's Alhaji Y A Amankwah, polling 15,483 votes (53.6%) to Amankwah's 12,803 (44.3%), a margin of 2,680 votes. [3]
  • 2004: Kinston Akomeng Kissi retained the seat for the NPP in 2004, defeating the NDC's Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed. Kissi secured 17,159 votes (50.8%) to Baba Jamal's 16,087 (47.6%), a margin of 1,072 votes. [4]
  • 2008: The NDC's Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed reclaimed the seat against the NPP's Kofi Asare, winning 17,777 votes (50.9%) to Asare's 17,160 (49.1%), a margin of 617 votes. [5]
  • 2012: Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed held the seat for the NDC against Kofi Asare of the NPP in another tight race, polling 19,811 votes (50.4%) to Kofi Asare's 19,517 (49.6%), a margin of 294 votes. [6]
  • 2016: The NPP rebounded in 2016, with Mercy Adu-Gyamfi (Ama Sey) defeating Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, securing 22,981 votes (60.6%) to Baba Jamal's 17,453 (39.4%), a margin of 5,528 votes. [7]
  • 2020: The NDC's Henry Yiadom Boakye recaptured the Akwatia seat, narrowly defeating the NPP's Ernest Yaw Kumi, winning 19,899 votes (51.5%) to Kumi's 18,742 (48.5%), a margin of 1,157 votes. [8]
  • 2024: Ernest Yaw Kumi of the NPP won against Henry Yiadom Boakye of the NDC, polling 19,269 votes (52.83%) to Boakye's 17,206 (47.17%), a margin of 2,063 votes. [9]

Sources:

[1] 1992: Gilbert Kwasi Agyei won the Akwatia seat unopposed (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[2] 1996: Alhaji Mohammed Erzuah Siam defeated Dr Kwame Kyei Baffour (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[3] 2000: Kinston Akomeng Kissi captured the seat against Alhaji Y A Amankwah (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[4] 2004: Kinston Akomeng Kissi retained the seat for the NPP (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[5] 2008: Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed reclaimed the seat against Kofi Asare (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[6] 2012: Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed held the seat for the NDC (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[7] 2016: Mercy Adu-Gyamfi (Ama Sey) defeated Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[8] 2020: Henry Yiadom Boakye recaptured the Akwatia seat against Ernest Yaw Kumi (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[9] 2024: Ernest Yaw Kumi won against Henry Yiadom Boakye (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[10] Current Parliament seat distribution (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[11] Global Info Analytics poll (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").

[12] Electoral Commission's decision on Tamale Central by-election (GhanaWeb, "Akwatia By-Election: EC to start printing ballot papers on August 20").