Akwatia by-election: NPP accepts defeat

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially conceded defeat in the Akwatia by-election, describing the outcome as the clear will of the people.

Certified results released by the Electoral Commission showed Bernard Bediako Baidoo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) winning with 18,199 votes, while the NPP’s Solomon Kwame Asumadu secured 15,235 votes.

Owusu Patrick of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) finished a distant third with 82 votes. In total, 33,819 valid votes were cast, with 303 ballots rejected.

Speaking after the declaration, the Eastern Regional Secretary of the NPP, Tony Osei-Adjei, admitted that the loss was disappointing but said the party respects the will of the constituents.

“We are a bit disappointed because that wasn’t what we expected, but the constituents have spoken, so we take it in good faith,” he stated.

Osei-Adjei also reflected on the memory of the late Ernest Kumi, the former MP whose passing necessitated the by-election. He expressed regret that the party could not retain the seat as a tribute to Kumi’s dedication to his constituents.

“To some extent, we disappointed him because he lost his life trying to maintain the seat. He worked tirelessly, chasing to restore his honour and dignity to his constituents,” Osei-Adjei said solemnly.

He further recalled the legal battles Kumi endured before his untimely death, noting how they added to the late MP’s struggles.

“Somewhere along the line, he lost when the Supreme Court gave the first ruling, and it was left with the Koforidua court to take a decision on it,” he explained.

The NPP says it will now return to the drawing board to evaluate what went wrong and re-strategize ahead of the 2028 general elections…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>