Paul Adom-Otchere hints at possible by-election in Asante Akim North

Media personality Paul Adom-Otchere has raised the prospect of a by-election in Asante Akim North, citing ongoing legal issues involving the area’s Member of Parliament (MP), Ohene Kwame Frimpong.

Speaking on his Good Evening Ghana show on September 2, 2025, Adom-Otchere revealed that the independent MP, who defeated the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Andy Appiah-Kubi in the 2024 elections, is currently facing legal challenges outside Ghana that could potentially cost him his seat, thereby prompting a possible by-election in Asante Akim North.

According to Adom-Otchere, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is already aware of the implications of a potential by-election in Asante Akim North. He explained that because the constituency is traditionally an NPP stronghold, the NDC risks losing the seat if a by-election is held, which could reduce their numbers in Parliament. He noted that this context partly explains why the NDC invested significant resources to secure victory in the recent Akwatia by-election, ensuring their parliamentary majority remains strong.

“Then we can test the formidability of the NPP — whether they have risen from the doldrums of the 41% or whether they are going even further down. Why was the NDC so interested?

“Someone might say the NDC already has a two-thirds majority, so why were they so focused on Akwatia? I will tell you a secret. There could be another by-election pending in Asante Akim, I don’t know whether it is North or South. The seat was won by an independent candidate who defeated Andy Appiah-Kubi,” he revealed.

Adom-Otchere clarified that the possible by-election is not due to the MP’s death but rather legal complications.

“This potential by-election is not because the MP has passed on. No, no, he is a young man and very much alive by the grace of God. But there are legal matters, some outside Ghana’s jurisdiction, that could lead to such a situation,” he added.

He further explained that if the NDC had lost Akwatia to the NPP, their parliamentary majority would have remained exactly at two-thirds. With a possible by-election in Asante Akim North, an NPP victory there would cause the NDC to lose that majority.

“Asante Akim North is a much tougher seat for the NDC to win than Akwatia. So, if the NDC loses Akwatia, stays at two-thirds, and the Asante Akim by-election occurs with the NPP winning, the NDC will fall short of the two-thirds majority.

“That may be the reason why the NDC was determined to win Akwatia, despite all the moral considerations people have raised,” he said.