The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Bernard Bediako Baidoo popularly called Lawyer, has given the government a significant win by emerging victorious at the Akwatia by-election.
In the official results from the Electoral Commission, Bediako received 18,199 of the total number of valid votes cast.The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Kwame Asumadu, who was his closest opponent, received 15,235 votes.
With 82 votes, Owusu Patrick of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) was far behind.33,819 of the total votes cast were genuine, and 303 were rejected.
The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Kumi, passed away earlier this year, demanding the by-election.Both the NDC and the NPP made weighty financial and human investments in the constituency during the fierce campaigning that preceded the election.
The by-election was conducted in 119 polling stations in Akwatia on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. After the polls officially closed at 5 p.m., party operatives, security guards, and impartial observers watched while the results were sorted and counted.
The NDC supporters celebrated Bediako’s triumph with joy, pouring onto Akwatia’s streets to sing and dance.
Given that Akwatia has historically been a swing district, switching between the NPP and NDC in previous elections, political commentators point out that the outcome bears a lot of weight. A significant boost to the governing party’s confidence ahead of the general elections in 2028 is seen to have come from the NDC’s most recent victory.
In view of this, Bernard Bediako is appointed the new Member of Parliament for Akwatia, where he pledges to carry on his predecessor’s work while furthering the government’s development goal in the state.
Author: Jasmine Adjei
Development journalist
