The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected private legal practitioner Bernard Bediako Baidoo as its candidate for the parliamentary by-election to be held in the Akwatia Constituency on September 2, 2025.

Bediako, a member of the party’s legal team and the current NDC Akwatia Constituency Secretary, emerged victorious in the tightly contested primary election on Monday, August 4, 2025, ahead of the by-election.

He polled 380 votes, defeating his close contender, Erasmus Koney Ali, who secured 366 votes, and former MP Henry Yiadom Boakye, whom Bediako represented as legal counsel in a court challenge against the late MP Ernest Yaw Kumi, with Boakye garnering 232 votes.

Out of 1,075 eligible voters, 975 cast their ballots, with three votes rejected.

He is set to face the New Patriotic Party’s candidate, Solomon Asumadu, for the Akwatia seat, which became vacant following the death of the Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi.

Ernest Yaw Kumi passed away on July 7, 2025, at the age of 40, after a brief illness.

A first-term MP representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kumi won the closely contested December 2024 election against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Henry Yiadom Boakye, securing 19,269 votes to Boakye’s 17,206.

However, his victory was marred by controversy, with the NDC alleging electoral irregularities, leading to a legal battle. A legal challenge against Kumi’s victory was pending at the time of his death. His seat was subsequently declared vacant following his passing.

GA