Accra, Ghana — Few constituencies in Ghana capture the drama of electoral politics like Akwatia in the Eastern Region. Over three decades of elections, this diamond-rich constituency has repeatedly swung between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), producing some of the closest, most contested, and most symbolic races in the Fourth Republic.
The Early Years: NDC Dominance (1992–1996)In 1992, the NDC’s Gilbert Kwasi Agyei secured the seat unopposed following the NPP’s parliamentary boycott. Four years later, Alhaji Mohammed Erzuah Siam delivered the party’s largest-ever margin in Akwatia, defeating the NPP’s Dr. Kwame Kyei Baffour by more than 9,000 votes. At the time, Akwatia appeared to be an NDC stronghold, aligned with the mining workforce that formed its economic base.
The Rise of the NPP and Baba Jamal’s Defeats (2000–2008)Akwatia’s political complexion shifted dramatically in 2000 when the NPP’s Kinston Akomeng Kissi defeated Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed of the NDC by 1,736 votes. Kissi repeated his victory in 2004 with another narrow margin. In 2008, a bitterly contested race between the NPP’s Kofi Asare and Baba Jamal ended in a rerun across six polling stations. Asare prevailed, and Jamal’s fourth consecutive defeat reinforced Akwatia’s reputation as a fiercely competitive constituency.
Ama Sey’s Stunning Victory (2016)The 2016 general election produced the most remarkable upset in Akwatia’s history. Mercy Adu-Gyamfi, popularly known as Ama Sey and running on the NPP ticket, defeated Baba Jamal by 5,528 votes — the widest winning margin the constituency had ever seen. Her victory symbolized voter frustration with the NDC’s national economic policies and coincided with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s presidential win.
Skirt and Blouse in 2020In 2020, Akwatia demonstrated its independence again. While Akufo-Addo secured 56.91% of the presidential vote in the constituency, voters chose the NDC’s Henry Yiadom Boakye as their MP. Analysts attribute the outcome to widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s clampdown on illegal mining (“galamsey”), which remains central to livelihoods in the area. The result exemplified Ghana’s “skirt and blouse” phenomenon, where voters split their choices between parties for presidential and parliamentary ballots.
Contested Results and Tragedy (2024–2025)The NPP reclaimed the seat in 2024 through Ernest Yaw Kumi, who defeated Henry Boakye by 2,063 votes. The victory was clouded by delays, disputes, and a legal challenge that went as far as the Supreme Court. Kumi eventually retained the seat but died unexpectedly on July 7, 2025, triggering a by-election.
NDC’s Comeback in the By-Election (2025)On September 2, 2025, Bernard Bediako Baidoo of the NDC won the by-election with 18,199 votes, defeating Solomon Asumadu of the NPP. It marked the NDC’s first parliamentary victory in Akwatia since 1996 and reaffirmed the constituency’s role as a bellwether in Ghanaian politics.
A Constituency That Mirrors the NationFrom unopposed victories and bitter reruns to upsets by outsiders and court battles, Akwatia has reflected the broader political mood of Ghana. Its voters have proven to be pragmatic, often punishing incumbents and rewarding opposition parties when national policies clash with local interests, particularly in mining.
As the 2028 general election approaches, political parties are expected to focus significant resources on Akwatia. Its history suggests no seat in Ghana is more unpredictable — or more telling of the nation’s democratic pulse.
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