The newly elected Member of Parliament for the Akwatia Constituency, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has attributed the low voter turnout in Tuesday’s by-election to reckless utterances from the political class.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, September 3, Mr. Baidoo said inflammatory comments from senior politicians created fear and panic among voters, discouraging many from participating in the polls.

“We were looking at a bigger turnout; we couldn’t meet the target for the 2024 elections. Largely, I think the political elite is to blame. These are people who should know better.

“You had senior political figures on the radio before the election calling for mayhem, saying Akwatia would burn. If I live in Kumasi and I vote at Akwatia and hear such comments, why would I risk travelling down to vote?” he questioned.

The Akwatia by-election, which had over 50,000 registered voters, saw only 33,819 turning out to cast their ballots.

Mr. Baidoo further noted that the heightened security presence in the constituency, with about 5,000 police officers deployed, only reinforced perceptions that the exercise could turn violent.

“The fear engulfed all of us. What is going to happen? Why should an election feel like we are going to war? The politicians created that atmosphere of chaos long before the election, and people made up their minds not to come,” he explained.

The MP-elect, however, urged political actors to draw lessons from the by-election, stressing that elections should not be reduced to a climate of intimidation.

“Election is election. I kept saying that nothing would happen, and indeed, nothing did," he added.