Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, has dismissed suggestions that sympathy for the late Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi, will significantly influence the outcome of the upcoming Akwatia by-election.
Instead, he believes voters will cast their ballots based on economic development, education, and job opportunities.
Speaking on The Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, August 30, Dankwah said:
“Sympathy will not influence voter decisions in the Akwatia by-election. The real issues for voters are jobs, economic development, and education.”
According to him, senior high school graduates and tertiary students in Akwatia are strongly backing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Lawyer Bernard Bediako, over the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Solomon Asumadu.
Dankwah explained that most of the late MP’s supporters who have shifted allegiance to the NDC are students who want better educational policies and employment opportunities.
“Those with senior high school qualifications are looking for sustainable jobs, while many tertiary students are voting for the NDC because of promises to improve the quality of education in the constituency,” he added.
Polling Data Favors NDC Candidate Bernard Bediako
Global InfoAnalytics’ latest poll shows that Bernard Bediako is projected to win 53% of the votes, while Solomon Asumadu of the NPP is expected to secure 47%.
Dankwah said he is “99% confident” that the NDC will win the Akwatia by-election, stressing that development-focused voters and strong support from the youth are driving Bediako’s lead.
The poll further highlighted that:
- 57% of sympathy-driven voters are those with JHS education or no formal education,
- Sympathy votes account for only 4% of overall voter priorities,
- The NDC’s lead is powered by SHS and tertiary-educated voters who overwhelmingly favor Bediako.
In a social media update on Friday, August 29, Dankwah stated:
“NDC’s Bernard Bediako has overtaken NPP’s Solomon Asumadu three days before the crucial polls in Akwatia. His lead is propelled by voters who prioritize development and by SHS and tertiary students who preferred him by a larger margin.”
Background to the Akwatia By-Election
The Akwatia by-election, scheduled for September 2, 2025, was triggered by the sudden death of the NPP’s Ernest Yaw Kumi in July 2025, only months after he won the parliamentary seat.
As the constituency prepares to go to the polls, analysts believe the outcome will serve as an important political signal ahead of the 2028 general elections.
