The NPP General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, has played down the significance of the party’s loss in the Akwatia by-election.

He argues that it does not offer any indication of what might unfold in the 2028 general elections.

The Electoral Commission’s certified results from the Tuesday, 2 September 2025 poll declared Bernard Bediako Baidoo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the winner with 18,199 votes out of 33,819 valid ballots.

His main rival, Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the NPP, garnered 15,235 votes, while the Liberal Progressive Party’s (LPP) candidate, Owusu Patrick, obtained only 82. There were 303 rejected ballots.

Speaking to Adom FM, Mr Kodua said: “This by-election is not a reflection of what will happen in 2028. We knew it was going to be a very difficult contest for us following the unfortunate passing of our MP, Ernest Kumi, but the NPP has shown considerable strength.”

He emphasised that electoral contests inevitably involve both victories and defeats, and noted that Akwatia’s history as a swing constituency meant results were often determined by slender margins.

“In every election, it is either you win or you lose. The Akwatia seat is a swing constituency, and whichever party wins does so by a very small margin,” he explained.

According to Mr Kodua, the NDC’s campaign hinged largely on development promises which resonated with parts of the electorate and helped secure their triumph.