The Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Eduzi Tamekloe, has lauded the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia—popularly known as “General Mosquito”—as a master strategist in electoral politics.

In a recent Facebook post after the NDC won the Akwatia seat in a by-election held on Tuesday, September 2, Mr. Tamekloe described Mr. Nketia as “an electionist,” emphasising his deep understanding of the political landscape. “He knows the game very well,” Mr Tamekloe stated, cautioning that it would be risky for anyone to underestimate the NDC Chairman’s capabilities.

Mr Tamekloe highlighted Mr. Nketia’s personal commitment to the party’s fortunes in Akwatia, noting that the Chairman took the constituency’s political battles “so personal,” which, according to him, demonstrates Nketia’s dedication and tactical acumen.

In a significant political turnaround, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, a private legal practitioner and candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), won the closely contested Akwatia by-election in the Eastern Region.

Mr. Baidoo secured 18,199 votes, representing approximately 54% of the total votes cast.

This victory marks a major breakthrough for the NDC as it reclaims the key swing constituency from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

His closest rival, Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the NPP, garnered 15,235 votes, while Owusu Patrick of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) received 82 votes.

The win repositions the NDC in Akwatia, a historically competitive seat where the NPP had maintained a narrow 5-4 parliamentary advantage since 1992.

This result follows an intensely fought campaign and a highly competitive NDC primary in August, where Mr. Baidoo defeated contenders including Erasmus Koney Ali and former MP Henry Yiadom Boakye.

The by-election was necessitated by the passing of the incumbent NPP MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, who won the seat in the 2024 general election by a margin of 2,063 votes, defeating the NDC’s Henry Yiadom Boakye.