Concerns over voter inducement have intensified in Akwatia after some residents openly declared they would only participate in the by-election if given money.
During the ongoing polls at the Zongo-Vawaso Electoral Area on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, several voters told Accra-based Citi FM that they would not cast their ballots unless they received cash from the two main political parties, the NDC and the NPP.
According to the residents, their frustration stems from the absence of the usual monetary inducements, which they blamed on the heavy security presence in the constituency.
A resident said “Due to the presence of the heavy security, the politicians were unable to distribute money to us. We didn’t get anything.”
“We have been trained this way, we love money. We have been given money during elections over the years; we’re waiting to receive money from the parties before we vote. We haven’t voted yet,” another constituent stated.
🚨 #AkwatiaByElection: “We’ve been trained this way. We love money!” — Some Akwatia constituents express displeasure over the lack of monetary favors due to heavy security presence. One said she’s waiting to be “paid” before voting.
📺 Live coverage: https://t.co/EaCzyMSIMA… pic.twitter.com/HAZoDWvBuF
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) September 2, 2025
The by-election, supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC), has attracted strong interest from political parties, civil society groups, and election observers.
Security agencies have also been deployed to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.
The poll was necessitated by the death of the sitting MP, Ernest Kumi, who passed away recently after a short illness. Kumi, a first-term legislator on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had been involved in a high-profile legal battle over the legitimacy of his seat.
His passing came just weeks after the Supreme Court overturned his contempt conviction relating to the disputed 2024 parliamentary election results—marking a significant loss to both his constituents and the NPP.
Akwatia is historically regarded as a swing constituency, with elections often keenly contested between the NPP and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The seat has therefore become a political hotspot, drawing attention well beyond the Eastern Region.
The by-election has drawn candidates from the NPP, NDC, other political parties, and an independent aspirant. The NPP is fielding Solomon Kwame Asumadu, while the NDC has presented Bernard Bediako Baidoo.
Both men have campaigned vigorously in recent weeks, supported by their respective party leaders and national executives, who have made several high-profile visits to the constituency.
The EC has assured stakeholders of a transparent and credible election.
With more than 50,000 registered voters expected to cast their ballots, today’s by-election is not only about filling a vacant seat but also serves as a crucial test of strength for the two major political parties.
