By Edward Acquah
Akwatia (E/R), Sept 2, GNA – Voting has begun smoothly in the Akwatia Constituency of the Eastern Region where about 52,000 registered voters are expected to cast their ballot in the parliamentary by-election.
The poll, taking place across 119 polling stations, follows the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Mr Ernest Yaw Kumi of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who won the seat in the 2024 general elections.
The GNA observed at polling stations within the Akwatia township that polls opened at exactly 0700 hours.
As of 7:20 hours about 15 voters had already cast their ballot at the Boadua Lorry Station Polling.
The deployment of election materials commenced at about 0400 hours. By 0600 hours, some of the polling stations within the Akwatia town had finished their set up.
There’s heavy police presence at the polling centres to maintain law and order.
The contest is between Mr Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the New Patriotic Party, licensed small-scale miner and graduate of All Nations University, and Mr Bernard Bediako Baidoo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a lawyer and constituency secretary of the NDC.
Security has been beefed up with 5,500 police officers deployed across the constituency, while all vehicles entering Akwatia are being searched as part of measures to ensure a peaceful vote.
Akwatia, a traditional swing seat, has alternated between the NPP and NDC since 1992, making Tuesday’s by-election a crucial test of strength for both parties.
GNA
Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage