The Executive Director of Global Info Analytics, Mussa Dankwah, has attributed the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the Akwatia by-election to a shift in voter priorities, particularly among the youth who demanded tangible development rather than sympathy.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey after the September 2, 2025 polls, Mr. Dankwah explained that many initially believed the NPP stood a chance due to the death of sitting MP Ernest Kumi.
However, he noted that the constituency’s demographic, dominated by young and educated voters, made sympathy votes irrelevant.
“Political parties must begin to understand the Gen Z voters, know your voters, know who you are dealing with. Akwatia voters age group nearly 70% of them are below the age of 35 years or up in 40 years. These people have no sympathy, they need development. They need actual improvement in their life. The older voters normally are sympathetic to certain situations. They are smarter. They are defending. They can’t be taken for granted,” Mr. Dankwah said.
Global Info Analytics had projected before the election that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Bernard Baidoo Bediako, would secure 53% of the votes.
The Electoral Commission’s certified results later confirmed this forecast, declaring Baidoo Bediako the winner with 18,199 votes (54.3%).
His closest contender, Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the NPP, garnered 15,235 votes (45.46%), while Patrick Owusu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) received just 82 votes.
In total, 33,819 valid ballots were cast, with 303 rejected.
Mr. Dankwah stressed that the results in Akwatia should serve as a lesson to political parties, underscoring the growing influence of young, development-driven voters who will be key in shaping outcomes ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
