Ernest Yaw Anim of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won the Kumawu Constituency by-election with 15,264 votes, or 70.91% of the vote, keeping the seat for the party.
Following the high stakes staked in the seat by both the ruling NPP and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), whose candidate Kwasi Amankwaa came in a distant second with 3,727 votes or 17.29 percent, the by-election was anticipated to be fiercely contested.
Thrilled with the local results and confident that Ernest Anim, an economist and chartered accountant, would soon be their representative in parliament, NPP supporters flooded the streets before the formal announcement of the collated results.
The two other candidates in the by-election, both named Kwaku Duah, similarly did not put up much of a fight, splitting a pitiful 2,540 votes or 11.8% between them.
15,264 (70.91%) for Ernest Yaw Anim (NPP).
3,723 (17.29%) votes for Kwasi Amankwaa (NDC).
2,478 (11.51%) Kwaku Duah (Ind. 1) residents
(0.29%) Kwaku Duah (Ind. 2): 62
Police were heavily present at the polls due to concerns that there would be violence, but the by-election was largely quiet, with the exception of a few minor disputes at a few polling places that were settled.
Due to the razor-thin margin of power between the two major parties in parliament, the Kumawu seat was a crucial addition and positioned the election as a game-changer for both parties. The seat fell vacant after the passing of the NPP’s representative for the area, Philip Basoah.
Since 2000, the NPP has consistently won the seat, but the party didn’t leave anything to chance and gave its top officials the chance to travel the district and rally support for its candidate. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as well as Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, all visited the constituency to solicit support for the endeavor.
