The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected legal practitioner Bernard Bediako Baidoo to contest the upcoming parliamentary primary elections in the Akwatia, Eastern Region, slated for Tuesday, September 2.

This comes after the party conducted an election on Monday, August 4, to present a contestant for the by-election in Akwatia.

The competition was between former Member of Parliament Henry Boakye, the current NDC Akwatia Constituency Secretary Bernard Bediako Baidoo, and Erasmus Koney Ali.Bernard Bediako Baidoo polled 380 votes, Erasmus Ali Korney secured 366 votes and Yiadom garnered 232 votes.

On the other hand, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has selected the Chief Executive of Owuo Mining Company, Solomon Kwame Asumadu, as its parliamentary candidate for the upcoming by-election.

According to the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Jeff Konadu Addo, the party arrived at this decision following an extensive consultaions with key stakeholders.

He stated that, “The National Council of the party set up a committee and we were tasked to find out who could be our candidate or whether we will do primaries or not.

"So, the team went to Akwatia in the constituency, had a lot of engagement with the grassroots, electoral area coordinators, polling station officers, chiefs, opinion leaders, and the majority of the people said that for primaries, we should take it out. We shouldn’t conduct primaries in Akwatia. And that’s exactly what we followed".

The election has become necessary following the death of the constituency’s representative, Ernest Yaw Kumi. The Akwatia MP was reported dead on Monday, July 7.

Earlier, there were reports suggesting the widow of the late MP, Mrs. Mavis Kumi, had shown interest in the race.

However, the Eastern Regional NPP Chairman Jeff Konadu Addo, on Tuesday, July 15, emphasized that campaign flyers purporting such claims are false and must be ignored.

“We wish to categorically state that this information is false, misleading, and should be treated with the utmost contempt it deserves,” parts of the statement said.It added that Mrs. Mavis Kumi is not interested in the said position but is focused on mourning the passing of her husband.

“She has unequivocally communicated that she has no interest in contesting the seat or participating in active politics at this time. Her current focus… is to mourn her husband with dignity and in peace,” the release added.

On Tuesday, July 8, a delegation from the leadership of Parliament visited the family of the late MP to express their condolences. The team was led by the Leader of the House, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga. Other members of the delegation included Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Clerk to Parliament Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, and Ofoase-Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, among others.

Chief of Takrowaso, Osabarima Owusu Nketia I, on Friday afternoon, July 25, led the family of the late Hon. Ernest Kumi, former Member of Parliament for Akwatia Constituency, to pay a courtesy call on the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.

The visit was to enable the family to officially inform the Speaker and Parliament of Mr Kumi’s demise. On behalf of Parliament, Speaker Bagbin extended his deepest condolences to the family of the late legislator.

Speaker Alban Bagbin described the passing of Mr. Ernest Kumi as a profound loss to Parliament and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

He lauded Mr. Kumi’s commitment to Ghana’s democratic development, noting that his tireless advocacy for his constituents and his steadfast dedication to national progress will be forever remembered and cherished.

The Speaker also stated that Parliament will work closely with the bereaved family to ensure Mr. Kumi is accorded a befitting burial.

Last month, the apex court overturned a ruling by the Koforidua High Court that convicted Mr Kumi of contempt of court.

The court, on Wednesday, June 11, by a 4–1 majority, granted the legislator's application to overturn the High Court's ruling.

On January 3, the Koforidua High Court issued an interim injunction restraining Ernest Yaw Kumi from being sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Akwatia.

The injunction stemmed from a legal challenge by Henry Boakye-Yiadom, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate and former MP, who contested the election results.

Boakye-Yiadom had filed a lawsuit against the Electoral Commission (EC), Kumi, and the Clerk to Parliament, disputing the outcome of the polls.

Official results had declared Kumi victorious with 19,269 votes, while Boakye-Yiadom secured 17,206 votes.

Despite the court’s order, Kumi went ahead with his swearing-in on January 7, 2025. His legal team, led by Lawyer Gary Nimako, later sought to overturn the injunction, but the court dismissed their application.

On February 19, 2025, the Koforidua High Court issued a bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest, citing his absence from contempt proceedings and his failure to comply with the earlier injunction.

Reacting to the development, the Minority in Parliament has condemned the court’s decision, arguing that it was excessive.

Speaking to the media, Second Deputy Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib expressed strong disagreement with the ruling.

In Parliament, Mr Kumi who was a first-time member in the 9th Parliament, served on both the Lands and Natural Resources Committee and the House Committee.Meanwhile, the Minister for Interior, Mubarak Muntaka, has urged security personnel who will be deployed to oversee the upcoming by-election in Akwatia constituency, Eastern Region, to remain alert while executing their duties.

He urged them to reflect on the recent violence that occurred during the parliamentary election rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency and work proactively to prevent a recurrence.

According to him, the government will work to ensure that such dramatic events do not repeat themselves in future elections.

The Minister made these remarks at the government accountability series in Accra on Monday, July 14.

“This is also a wake-up call for our security agencies to know that probably what happened [in Ablekuma North]…gives our security agencies the opportunity to even plan better towards Akwatia.

“All I can assure the people of Akwatia is that we will use Ablekuma North as a case study to review how we operate in Akwatia—to make sure that the citizens are free to cast their votes and express their will without fear or favour,” Muntaka added.