The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced its intention to contest the upcoming Akwatia by-election, scheduled for September 2, 2025. The confirmation was made by the party’s Deputy National Communications Officer, Godwin Ako Gunn.
The Akwatia parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of Ernest Yaw Kumi of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on July 7, 2025. Kumi’s tenure had been mired in legal battles since the December 2024 general elections, in which he was declared winner with 19,269 votes against the NDC’s Henry Yiadom Boakye, who secured 17,206 votes.
Boakye challenged the results in court, citing electoral irregularities. In January 2025, the Koforidua High Court issued an interim injunction barring Kumi from being sworn in, but he took the oath of office on January 7 regardless. The court later found him in contempt and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The Supreme Court eventually overturned the contempt ruling in June, ruling that the injunction had been improperly issued.
Addressing the by-election, Ako Gunn criticized the NPP’s earlier decision not to contest the Tamale Central by-election, describing it as a political tactic to avoid defeat and gain sympathy ahead of Akwatia. He cautioned NDC supporters not to underestimate their opponents, noting the NPP’s similar approach in Ablekuma North, where they initially announced non-participation but later campaigned actively.
He also recalled that the NDC itself had strategically opted out of the Ejisu by-election following the death of MP John Kumah. Extending condolences to Kumi’s family and to the families of the eight “gallant heroes” currently being mourned nationwide, he urged party members to be measured in their public statements during this sensitive period.
The Akwatia by-election is expected to be one of the most closely watched political contests of the year, given the constituency’s history as a fiercely contested swing seat.
