Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, officially swore into office Bernard Bediako Baidoo and Professor Alidu Seidu as Members of Parliament for Akwatia and Tamale Central constituencies, respectively, on Tuesday, October 21. Both legislators represent the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), bringing the total number of sitting MPs to 276.

During the solemn ceremony, the newly elected members took two crucial oaths: the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of a Member of Parliament. Professor Alidu Seidu chose to take his oath on the Quran, while Bernard Bediako Baidoo opted for the Bible, signifying their individual commitments.

In a brief but impactful address following the swearing-in, Speaker Bagbin urged the new legislators to discharge their duties with utmost diligence and integrity, and to show profound respect to their colleagues within the House. He emphasized the weight of their pledges, stating, “I will hold you to the two oaths you have sworn, particularly the one where you pledged to faithfully and conscientiously discharge the duties of a Member of Parliament.” With a touch of humor, the Speaker also advised them on effective duty performance, metaphorically offering them “a hoe and a cutlass — the Constitution and the Standing Orders,” encouraging them to study these foundational documents thoroughly. He added, “If you want to discharge your duties well, you must sleep with them — no matter your background,” a remark that drew laughter from the members present.

The by-election in Akwatia Constituency became necessary following the passing of the sitting Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi, earlier in 2025. Bernard Bediako Baidoo, the NDC candidate, secured a significant victory in this closely watched political contest. Certified results from the Electoral Commission (EC) indicated that Baidoo polled 18,199 votes. He defeated Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who garnered 15,235 votes. Owusu Patrick of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) finished a distant third with 82 votes. A total of 33,819 valid ballots were counted, with 303 ballots rejected.

Similarly, the Tamale Central by-election was necessitated by the tragic death of the incumbent MP, Dr Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who lost his life in a military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025. Professor Alidu Mahama Seidu of the NDC was declared the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central by the Electoral Commission after emerging as the sole candidate in the race. This announcement was made on Tuesday, September 23, in accordance with Constitutional Instrument (CI) 127, which empowers the EC to declare an unopposed candidate duly elected.