Akwatia by-election: EC to meet political parties tomorrow
The Electoral Commission (EC) is scheduled to meet with all political parties participating in the upcoming Akwatia by-election on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
The purpose of this meeting is to assess their readiness and provide important updates regarding the election procedures.
The by-election, scheduled for September 2, 2025, follows the unfortunate passing of the constituency’s Member of Parliament, Ernest Kumi, due to a brief illness.
In a statement, Joe Appiah Baffoe, the EC’s Eastern Regional Director, reassured all stakeholders of the Commission’s commitment to conducting a transparent and credible election.
“Our common interest is to ensure a peaceful, free, and fair election. We entreat all political parties to conform to the rules so that, in the end, we can all achieve the peaceful election we are seeking,” he said.
Mr. Baffoe further mentioned that the meeting on Wednesday will serve as an essential platform for the Commission to engage directly with the parties and their candidates, discussing vital operational details.
Meanwhile, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSAWL) has declared the upcoming Akwatia Constituency by-election a “no-go area” for weapons.
In a public notice issued on Sunday, August 24, 2025, the Commission warned political parties, candidates, and supporters against carrying or displaying any form of weapon during the election period.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Adam A. Bonah, stressed that both lethal and non-lethal weapons, including guns, knives, machetes, pepper spray, tasers, and improvised objects, are strictly banned. He said anyone caught with such items would be immediately arrested and prosecuted.
Dr Bonah cautioned that Ghana’s democracy remains vulnerable to politically motivated violence, often fuelled by “inflammatory rhetoric and the unlawful possession of firearms”.
He therefore urged politicians to lead by example by encouraging their supporters to campaign peacefully.