Former President John Mahama has extended congratulations to the Parliamentary aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwasi Amankwaa for running on the ticket of the party during the Kumawu by-election.

Mr Mahama said the votes that the NDC candidate garnered during the election show an increase in numbers compared to their 2020 election results.

He explained that despite the vote buying which was undertaken by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the NDC was able to secure an overwhelming number of votes.

“That enthusiasm was aptly demonstrated in the increased number of votes our candidate garnered in the poll – 1,284 actual votes representing an increase of 52.6% over our 2020 performance.

“That is significant, especially in the face of the deliberate vote buying undertaken by the NPP, even at the polling stations, and the deceit of the people with asphalt roads, and the fact that the constituency has historically been an NPP stronghold,” he said in a statement on Facebook on Thursday, May 25.

On Tuesday, May 23, NPP’s Ernest Yaw Anim polled 15,264 votes representing 70.91% to win the Kumawu Constituency by-election and thus retained the seat for the party.

The by-election was expected to be closely fought following the high stakes invested in the seat by both the ruling NPP and the opposition NDC, whose candidate Kwasi Amankwaa, came a distant second with 3,727 votes or 17.29 percent.

The two other contestants in the by-election, both named Kwaku Duah, equally did not provide much of a contest, sharing between them a paltry 2,540 votes or 11.8%.

In light of this, the NDC flagbearer-elect asserted that the election results were a great sign from the people of Kumawu.

According to him, regardless of Kumawu being the stronghold of the NPP, they recorded a significant reduction in the number of votes obtained.

He further explained that the NDC may have not succeeded in winning the seat, but they had the opportunity to go through the electoral operations and procedures.

“Judging from the results, the ruling NPP has clearly recorded a significant reduction in the over all votes in their stronghold, and for me, that is a great sign from the good people of Kumawu.

“We may not have succeeded in flipping the seat, but I am proud that, as a collective, spearheaded by our National Chairman and General Secretary, we have had the opportunity to test our reviewed electoral operational procedures, including monitoring, party agent selection and training, collation, and transmission of results,” Mr Mahama said.

The former President, however, congratulated the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo-Dampare and his personnel for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the polls.

“The conduct of the police personnel gives us confidence for the future that they will continue to bear true allegiance to the state and not to any political party,” he said.

He noted that a credible election depends on the people the Electoral Commission recruits as presiding officers to collaborate with the agents and representatives of the political parties.

“Many of the infractions observed should not have occurred. Our monitoring teams that ensured the early detection of these infractions will be looking forward to engaging further to ensure that these issues are definitely dealt with and corrective measures taken ahead of any other election,” he stressed.

The former President also congratulated Ernest Yaw Ayim, the NPP MP-elect for the Kumawu Constituency.

He thanked the people of Kumawu for the peaceful conduct of the by-election and commended the NDC’s team from various branches, constituencies and the many selfless members of the party who were in Kumawu to assist to ensure a smooth process.