NPP’s Ernest Kumi declared winner of disputed Akwatia parliamentary poll

Supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Akwatia in the Eastern Region are in a jubilant mood following his declaration as winner of the recently held 2014 Parliamentary elections

The Electoral Commission (EC) moments ago named Ernest Kumi of the NPP as the Member of Parliament-elect for the area, following a protracted and highly contentious electoral process.

Disputes over the collation process held on Saturday, December 07, 2024 forced the electoral body to postpone the process.

The declaration was made at the National Police Training School in Tesano, Accra, after multiple failed attempts to finalize the results in the Eastern Region.

Ernest Kumi polled 19,269 votes, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Candidate, Henry Yiadom Boakye garnered 17,206 votes.

The Akwatia Constituency, traditionally a stronghold for the NPP, became a focal point of national attention in the December 07 elections.

In the Presidential elections, the NPP's Dr Mahamadu Bawumia received 17,948 votes while John Dramani of the NDC followed closely with 17685 votes.

What should have been a straightforward declaration of the results turned into a prolonged process riddled with disputes, delays, and accusations from various quarters.

Ernest Kumi had previously won the NPP primary in 2023, defeating the former MP, Ama Sey to secure the party’s Parliamentary ticket.

His victory in the primary was seen as a sign of his growing influence within the party and his readiness to take on the general elections.

However, the subsequent electoral process proved to be anything but smooth, with controversies arising at nearly every stage.

The Akwatia constituency was one of four constituencies, alongside Suhum, Nsawam, and Fanteakwa North, whose results had to be relocated to the National Police Training School for final re-collation.