Political Scientist and Head of the Centre for European Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has said the outcome of the Akwatia by-election shows a sharp rise in the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) goodwill.

Speaking on the AM Show on JoyNews, Dr Asah-Asante explained that the by-election was an important test for both major parties.

“This election was hinged on two tests,” he said. “The test of resilience of the NPP and the test of declining goodwill of the NDC. And you saw that NDC goodwill is increasing with amazing rapidity. But that of NPP is declining.”

According to him, the results send a clear message to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) about the need to reorganise.

“It gives them homework that they need to put their house in order to be able to fight and fight head on,” he advised.

Dr Asah-Asante noted that Akwatia remains a swing constituency where outcomes are often unpredictable. He said that under normal circumstances, the NPP should have had an advantage.

“If you look at the constituency which is a toss up, like what we experienced yesterday, one would have thought all factors being equal, NPP would’ve carried the day. But events took a different turn and we saw the results,” he explained.

Dr Asah-Asante said that while the NPP’s performance shows a decline, he said that the party should not be underestimated.

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“So the NPP need to sit up and work very hard. Yes, their numbers are dwindling but they are still a force to reckon with in parliament even though the numbers don’t favour them,” Dr Asah-Asante added.