NDC’s Baidoo files nomination forms for Akwatia by-election

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has officially filed his nomination at the Electoral Commission’s office to contest the September 2 by-election.

He pledged to reclaim the seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Addressing party faithful after filing, Lawyer Baidoo expressed confidence in the NDC’s chances, pointing to the party’s renewed unity and readiness for the polls.

“We are very confident that on September 2, we will emerge victorious. What you are seeing here today directly contradicts the notion that the NDC is disunited or fragmented. The very gentlemen I contested against in the primaries are standing firmly behind me. That demonstrates the united front we’re presenting as we head into this crucial election,” he said.

Baidoo urged constituents to rally behind the NDC, stressing that his election would be key to delivering development promises made by President John Dramani Mahama.

“President Mahama made specific promises to the people of Akwatiaman. To fulfill those promises, he needs a trusted representative in Parliament. He has three years to govern if re-elected, and Akwatia deserves its fair share of the national cake. We have already seen progress, like the near-completion of connecting GCD to the national grid. That was a promise made by President Mahama, and it will soon be fulfilled. This is just the beginning of greater things for Akwatia,” he assured.

Baidoo’s candidacy has received the backing of his former rivals in the recent NDC parliamentary primaries. Former Akwatia MP (2020), Henry Yiadom Boakye, said he had accepted the primary results and pledged his full support.

“I conceded defeat even before the Electoral Commission officially declared Lawyer Baidoo as the elected candidate. He and his team approached me, and we’ve had fruitful discussions as a family. At the end of the day, the NDC is what we are all working for — the party is bigger than any individual,” Boakye noted.

Another former aspirant, Erasmus Koney Ali, also called for unity to secure victory.

“A united front is the most important thing. At the vetting stage, we all agreed that whoever wins would have our full support. We must all rally behind Lawyer Baidoo. We already have the majority in Parliament. If the NPP wins, they won’t be able to effectively develop the area. But with President Mahama leading the country, we can guarantee development through our elected representative,” Ali stated.

The Akwatia by-election was triggered by the sudden death of the sitting NPP MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi. In the 2024 general election, Kumi won the seat with 19,269 votes against NDC’s Henry Yiadom Boakye, who polled 17,206 votes — a result the NDC later challenged in court.