Former Kade MP Ofosu Asamoah has criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for its choice of candidate in the Akwatia By-Election, describing the candidate as unsuitable for the role.
In an interview with Kumasi-based Angel 96.1 FM monitored by Kumasimail, Asamoah drew a stark contrast between the candidates fielded by the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He pointed out that while the NDC selected a lawyer, suited for a legislative role in Parliament, the NPP presented a miner as its candidate a decision he said was ill-timed given the widespread concerns over illegal mining in the area.
“As you look at the candidates, the NDC’s candidate is a lawyer, fitting for Parliament where laws are crafted. We, however, have put forward a miner at a time when the nation is battling the challenges of illegal mining,” Asamoah noted.
He emphasized that loyal party supporters would vote along party lines but highlighted the critical role of undecided voters, who base their choice on the candidate’s capacity to deliver development.
“Those who don’t support any political party tend to vote based on development and what the candidate can do for the constituency,” he explained.
Asamoah painted a bleak picture of Akwatia’s environmental state, citing the destruction of river bodies due to galamsey mining, which has rendered water undrinkable.
He described how even farmers have to carry clean water to their farms because the flowing rivers are contaminated.
“If you choose a miner as your candidate in Akwatia, you shouldn’t expect voters with a clear conscience to support such a candidate,” he said firmly.
He concluded by faulting the party’s decision-making process, particularly the failure to conduct primaries before settling on the candidate.
“The party’s choice was wrong. To settle on a candidate without primaries and say ‘we are going with this choice’ was a mistake,” he asserted.
Background:
The Akwatia By-Election, held on September 2, 2025, was triggered by the death of the sitting NPP Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi, in July 2025.
Akwatia is a key swing constituency in Ghana’s Eastern Region, known for its diamond mining economy and a history of alternating political victories between the two major parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Since 1992, the constituency has flipped between the NPP and NDC several times, making it a barometer of national political trends.
The by-election was fiercely contested between the NPP candidate Solomon Kwame Asumadu, a small-scale miner, and the NDC candidate Bernard Bediako Baidoo, a lawyer.
The contest drew strong national attention due to its competitive nature and its potential to influence parliamentary dynamics in Ghana.
Security measures were heightened with thousands of police officers deployed to ensure a peaceful voting process.
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
