The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected legal practitioner Bernard Baidoo as its parliamentary candidate for the upcoming Akwatia by-election, scheduled for September 2.
Baidoo, a member of the NDC’s legal team, emerged victorious in the party’s primary held on August 4, securing 380 votes. He narrowly defeated his closest contender, Erasmus Koney Ali, who polled 366 votes.
Also in the race was former MP Henry Yiadom Boakye — who lost the Akwatia seat in the December 2024 general election — and who received 232 votes. Notably, Baidoo had previously served as legal counsel for Mr. Boakye.
The primary was tightly contested among three aspirants:
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Bernard Bediako Baidoo – constituency executive and lawyer
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Erasmus Koney Ali – entrepreneur and political newcomer
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Henry Yiadom Boakye – former MP
The results were declared by the Eastern Regional Electoral Commission boss, Appiah Baffoe.
The by-election has become necessary following the recent passing of sitting MP Ernest Yaw Kumi, who represented the constituency on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
With its candidate now confirmed, the NDC is set to begin earnest preparations to face the NPP’s Solomon Kwame Asumadu in what is expected to be a fiercely contested race to fill the vacant Akwatia seat.
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Story by Sika Togoh|univers.ug.edu.gh