Ayawaso East: I won’t be surprised if Baba Ali wins by-election – Nana B

The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has signalled confidence in his party’s chances in the Ayawaso East by-election.

He stated that a victory for its candidate, Baba Ali, would not come as a surprise to him.

Speaking in an interview earlier today, Nana Boakye conceded that the NPP has historically failed to clinch the Ayawaso East seat. However, he argued that the mood in the constituency suggests the political tide may be shifting.

He painted a picture of generally low voter participation across polling centres he monitored, describing the turnout as modest but not unusual for a by-election. Despite the low numbers, he said the process had been orderly, crediting the police for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere.

“There is often low turnout in by-elections, and it appears that this election has recorded very low participation. I visited several polling stations and observed the same pattern of low turnout. However, the election has been peaceful so far, with the police actively doing their job. We hope that turnout might increase when workers return home from work,” he remarked.

Beyond turnout, Nana Boakye suggested that personal appeal could prove decisive in the contest. He indicated that Baba Ali’s identity as a native of the constituency and his reputation for humility may resonate strongly with voters, potentially attracting support beyond the NPP’s traditional base.

“Although we haven’t previously won in Ayawaso East, I wouldn’t be surprised if some NDC members vote for our candidate, Baba Ali, regardless of his party affiliation, since he is a native of the community,” he said.

He further claimed that questions about the local roots of the NDC’s candidate have surfaced in community conversations, a factor he believes could influence voter decisions.

“Residents have expressed that Baba Jamal is not a local, and some are even campaigning against him. The NDC is strong in this constituency, but our candidate is well-liked by the people and known for being humble. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins,” he added.

The by-election is being conducted to fill the parliamentary vacancy left by the passing of the constituency’s Member of Parliament, Naser Toure, with political observers closely watching whether the traditionally NDC-leaning seat could witness an upset.