The National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Baba Jamal, has been officially declared the winner of the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election, a contest held on Tuesday, March 3, to fill the vacancy left by the demise of the late MP Naser Toure Mahama. The announcement by the Electoral Commission sparked jubilant celebrations among his supporters across the constituency, affirming earlier projections of a commanding advantage for the NDC.

Throughout the election day, which saw polling stations open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the atmosphere was consistently described as peaceful and incident-free by various stakeholders, including the Ghana Police Service and political party representatives. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, lauded the process as one of the most peaceful the country has witnessed, attributing it to effective security planning and stakeholder cooperation. The Inspector-General of Police personally monitored the election, ensuring that security measures, which included a strong police presence at 114 polling centres and the collation point, were robust and sufficient to handle any eventuality.

Despite the calm environment, a significant theme emerging from the by-election was the remarkably low voter turnout. Both the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, and the NPP National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, expressed concern over the sparse participation. Mussa Dankwah, Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, explained that such low turnout is not unusual for by-elections, which historically attract fewer voters than general elections, often ranging between 35% and 50%. He also suggested that the ongoing Ramadan fast might have contributed to lower morning turnout, as residents tended to relax during those hours.

Baba Jamal, the victorious NDC candidate, framed his political ambition as being driven by human service rather than materialistic gains, a motivation he articulated after casting his vote. He referenced his prior successful tenure as Member of Parliament for Akwatia, expressing confidence in his capacity to deliver for Ayawaso East. Addressing the challenge from former NDC member Mohammed Umar Sanda, who ran as an independent candidate, Mr. Jamal acknowledged Sanda as a “brother” but disagreed with his “wrong route,” ultimately welcoming the contest as a part of democratic practice and trusting in a divine outcome. Deputy NDC Secretary Mustapha Gbande echoed this confidence, projecting a decisive 80% victory for the NDC, describing the Nima election as a “family affair” and downplaying the NPP’s role.

From the NPP’s side, despite the eventual outcome, there was a measure of optimism. Salam Mustapha reported a positive reception for the NPP candidate, Baba Ali Yusif, from voters. Henry Nana Boakye, while acknowledging the NPP had never won the Ayawaso East seat since 1992, stated he wouldn’t be surprised by a victory for Baba Ali, citing his local roots and humble reputation, which he believed could sway some NDC voters. Former NPP General Secretary John Boadu also expressed confidence, claiming voter disillusionment with the governing NDC over unfulfilled campaign promises like the 24-hour economy and reduced utility prices. He argued that development projects in the constituency had largely been spearheaded by the NPP, which he believed residents acknowledged and would reflect in their votes.

A total of five candidates contested the seat: Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed (NDC), Baba Ali Yusif (NPP), Umar Sanda Mohammed (Independent), David Kanor (Independent), and Ibrahim Iddrisu (Liberal Party of Ghana). The constituency, widely regarded as an NDC stronghold, saw Global InfoAnalytics’ survey data indicate a heavily partisan leaning of about 75% towards the NDC, reinforcing Mussa Dankwah’s projection that low turnout would not dramatically alter the overall winner, though it might affect vote margins. The peaceful conclusion of the by-election and the clear declaration of results further underscored Ghana’s commitment to democratic electoral processes, with the police urging all citizens to embrace elections as a non-violent exercise of choice.