- The Akwatia Constituency parliamentary by-election comes off following the death of MP Ernest Kumi
- The National Democratic Congress candidate in Akwatia, Bernard Bediako, is tipped by polls to win the upcoming by-election
- Bediako is going up against the New Patriotic Party’s Solomon Kwame Asumadu, a small-scale miner
The Akwatia Constituency parliamentary by-election comes off on September 2, with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) eyeing the vacant seat.
The NPP is being represented by a 40-year-old licensed small-scale miner, Solomon Kwame Asumadu, and Bernard Bediako, a lawyer, is trying to win the seat for the NDC.
Source: Facebook
The seat was made vacant by the July 7 death of MP on the ticket of the NPP, Ernest Kumi.
Kumi defeated the NDC’s candidate in the 2024 parliamentary election, Henry Boakye Yiadom by 19,269 to 17,206.
The NDC and the NPP were the only parties that filed nominations to contest the crucial by-election.
Global Info Analytics has projected victory for Bediako in the election, though his candidature has little to do with his prospects.
Per the survey, voters in the constituency are most invested in development projects, with 42% of them saying it would influence their votes.
This was followed by the economy at 15%, education at 13% and jobs at 10%.
The popularity of the candidates is only influencing 2% of the voters in Akwatia, according to the poll.
The Eastern Regional Youth organiser for the NDC, Richard Etornam Nyarko, told YEN.com.gh that his side was optimistic and that efforts have been made to sway the minds of Akwatia voters from the NPP.
“Right from the start, there has been a lot of work that has gone into the constituency that has tried to bring the residents of Akwatia up to speed on the need for them to vote for Bernard Bediako.”
“We have engaged almost everybody in the constituency and drawn attention to the fact that politics is about development… A representative in the part of government will be able to knock on doors and draw down those development projects.”
Security has also been beefed up in all the communities participating in the by-election.
The police administration deployed 5,000 police personnel to provide security.
Ahead of the election, the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, issued a warning to party supporters, saying any person causing trouble at Akwatia would be decisively dealt with.
Yohuno said the Ghana Police Service was ready to ensure a peaceful atmosphere, protecting lives and property, before, during and after the Akwatia by-election.
He also cautioned the supporters of the candidates contesting in the elections to avoid carrying weapons to any of the polling stations.
Joy News reported that both the NDC and NPP refused to sign a peace pact ahead of the polls.
There has been some tension ahead of the polls because of the violence which occurred during the Ablekuma North election re-run on July 11.
Both parties suggested that they would take their protection into their own hands if the need arose.
Source: Facebook
Police seize guns in Akwatia ahead of by-election
YEN.com.gh reported that the Eastern South Regional Police Command arrested 10 suspects and retrieved nine weapons in separate operations at Akwatia.
These actions by law enforcers were part of ongoing security operations ahead of the by-election in the Eastern Regional town.
The weapons seized by the police reportedly included eight pump-action guns and one locally manufactured single-barreled gun.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
