The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has formally confirmed its intention to contest the upcoming Akwatia by-election, slated for September 2, 2025, in the Eastern Region, vowing to mount a vigorous campaign to reclaim the seat.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the party’s Deputy National Communications Officer, Mr. Godwin Ako Gunn, who used the opportunity to cast doubt on the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) political strategy in recent by-elections.
According to Mr. Gunn, the NPP’s decision last week not to contest the Tamale Central by-election was “a calculated attempt to evade electoral defeat and court public sympathy” ahead of the Akwatia polls. He urged the Ghanaian electorate to critically assess such moves, warning against taking them “at face value.”
“This is not the first time a political party has chosen to stay away from a by-election,” Mr. Gunn recalled, pointing to the NDC’s own decision to abstain from the Ejisu by-election earlier this year following the passing of then-MP John Kumah. However, he stressed that unlike in Ejisu, the NPP’s withdrawal from Tamale Central appeared to be rooted in electoral calculations rather than principle.
Mr. Gunn also referenced the Ablekuma North re-run, in which the NPP initially announced it would not participate but later launched a full-scale campaign — a move he said demonstrates the party’s tendency to “shift goalposts when it suits them politically.”
Touching on the Akwatia seat itself, the NDC spokesperson explained that the constituency had been embroiled in a court dispute, which was still unresolved at the time of the death of Ernest Kumi, the late NPP MP. “Our participation is to ensure that the people of Akwatia have a representative in Parliament chosen through a fair, transparent, and democratic process,” he said.
While outlining the party’s readiness for the polls, Mr. Gunn also expressed condolences to the family of the late Ernest Kumi and extended sympathy to the families of the eight military and government officials who lost their lives in last week’s tragic helicopter crash.
In a call for political maturity, he urged all NDC members and supporters to remain respectful in their public commentary during this period of national mourning. “We can pursue political victory without abandoning our shared humanity,” he emphasised.
The Electoral Commission is expected to officially open nominations for the Akwatia by-election in the coming days, with political observers predicting a fiercely contested race in the constituency, which has historically swung between the two major parties.
