The Ayawaso East Constituency in the Greater Accra Region held a keenly contested parliamentary by-election on Tuesday, March 3, to elect a new Member of Parliament. This electoral event was necessitated by the passing of the sitting MP, Naser Toure Mahama, a four-term legislator for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who died on January 4 earlier this year after a brief illness. Mr. Toure had been re-elected in the 2024 general elections. The Electoral Commission (EC) deployed 455 officers and 130 temporary staff across 113 polling stations, where 49,966 registered voters were expected to cast their ballots between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. A last-minute legal challenge against the by-election was dismissed by a court on Monday, March 2, clearing the way for the polls to proceed without interruption.

Five candidates were vying for the vacant seat. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) was represented by Baba Jamal, former Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate was Yussif Baba Ali. Independent candidates included Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Sanda, a former NDC member who recently severed ties with the party, and David Kannor. Ibrahim Iddrisu contested on the ticket of the Liberal Party of Ghana.

Preparations for the by-election were comprehensive, with the EC's Director of Research, Fred Tetteh, assuring the public that all logistics, including biometric verification devices, ballot boxes, and electoral registers, were fully in place. Certified international elections observer Koku Anyidoho expressed satisfaction with the EC's performance, commending the timely deployment of materials and personnel, and the adherence to international standards for polling station setup, ensuring voter privacy and visible ballot box placement. He also highlighted the strong media turnout at polling stations, cautioning against commentary from those not physically present as potential sources of disinformation.

Security was a prominent feature of the day's arrangements, with the Greater Accra Regional Police Command deploying sufficient personnel to all polling stations to ensure a peaceful and transparent process. In one account, 80 officers were deployed to each polling station. While this heightened security was acknowledged by candidates like Baba Jamal and Baba Ali, former Energy Minister and NPP Chairman-aspirant Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko voiced concerns that such heavy police presence, though necessary, indicates a worrying weakness in Ghana's democratic evolution. He argued that discipline in a democracy should stem from citizens’ sense of duty and knowing what is right, rather than being compelled by enforcement.

Voter turnout was notably low in the early hours. NDC candidate Baba Jamal attributed this primarily to the constituency's predominantly Muslim population observing Ramadan, expressing confidence that participation would increase later in the day. Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko offered another perspective, noting that by-elections in Ghana generally experience low patronage, and the perception of a "foregone conclusion" in a party stronghold like Ayawaso East further depresses voter enthusiasm. He later made a direct civic appeal for all residents to come out and vote before polls closed at 5 p.m., emphasizing the importance of exercising civic responsibility to consolidate democratic progress.

Pre-election polling conducted by Global InfoAnalytics between February 28 and March 1, involving 972 respondents, projected Baba Jamal to secure a significant lead with 75 per cent of valid votes. NPP's Baba Ali was forecast to obtain 21 per cent, and independent candidate Umaru Sanda Muhammed 3 per cent. The NPP's National Youth Organiser, Salam Mustapha, criticized the NDC campaign approach, accusing Baba Jamal of engaging in vote-buying during the NDC's constituency primary, allegedly distributing motorbikes, GH¢10,000 packages, or television sets. Mustapha asserted that the NPP would offer principled leadership focused on the long-term interests of residents. In response, Baba Ali dismissed the credibility of these polls, stating that the "reality on the ground tells a different story" and that such data does not accurately reflect voter sentiment in Ayawaso East. However, NDC's Deputy National Youth Organiser, Osman Ayariga, expressed strong optimism, projecting Baba Jamal would win with no less than 60 per cent, based on internal assessments and extensive grassroots mobilization.

Throughout the day, candidates urged peace and calm. Baba Jamal, after casting his ballot at the Alhaji Iddrisu House 2 polling station, expressed gratitude for the peaceful process and called on his supporters to remain law-abiding, highlighting his motivation for politics as human service rather than material gain, drawn from his past experience in Akwatia. Baba Ali similarly encouraged residents to exercise their franchise peacefully. As polls closed at 5 p.m., counting and collation of ballots were expected to commence immediately, with official results anticipated later in the evening.