National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has urged residents of the Akwatia constituency to prioritise development and their well-being in their choice of candidate for the upcoming by-election.
He says the person to lead the constituency in Parliament should be chosen based on their competence and the potential benefits to the constituency and the country at large, rather than basing their choice on party history or loyalty to founding fathers.
According to him, the upcoming polls should be policy-centered and not reduced to the usual New Patriotic Party (NPP) versus National Democratic Congress (NDC) rhetoric.
The NDC National Chair explains that every individual has their own independent mind for a reason—to make personal decisions that will benefit them and their environment, rather than basing decisions on the origins of a particular political party’s founding father.
“You should tell yourself that God created you the same way He created Busia and Danquah, and gave you a brain to use for your life. When it’s an election, you should vote based on what’s best for your community, yourself, and your country.
“But, if we make decisions based on the late Busia, God may question us after our death about whether we used the brain He gave us to help ourselves. So, I’ll plead with you not to make this a matter of NPP and NDC, but rather look at what will benefit us, Akwatia, and Wenchi,” he said on Sunday, August 31, 2025, while speaking with some constituents of Wenchi ahead of the upcoming by-election.
He also assured the gathering that security agencies will thwart any attempts by unscrupulous individuals to disrupt the peace in the area. Some individuals, he noted, often hire hoodlums and hooligans from other places to compromise the elections and tarnish the constituents’ reputation.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has assured the public of maximum security ahead of the by-election.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has since met with stakeholders, including political parties, to discuss security preparations and ensure a peaceful election.
The Ghana Police Service has deployed 5,500 officers to the Akwatia constituency in anticipation of the by-election scheduled for September 2, 2025.
The move follows growing political tension after the death of the sitting MP, Ernest Kumi of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), left the seat vacant. The constituency has since become a flashpoint of rivalry between the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition NPP.
With political stakes running high, the scale of the deployment underscores efforts by authorities to maintain order and protect voters amid fears of unrest.
I’m 99% sure NDC will win Akwatia by-election – Mussa Dankwah
