The newly elected Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, on the ticket of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), says he and the party have already begun planning how to deliver on their campaign promises, with a strong focus on development in the constituency.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, September 3, Mr. Baidoo said his team started working immediately after his declaration as MP-elect.
“The work started from the very first minute I was declared, and we started thinking of how best we can proceed to give the best presentation to the people, as I have promised. So it is a mixed feeling, good and challenging, and I am ready to take it up,” he stated.
The private legal practitioner expressed gratitude to the Electoral Commission, the police, and constituents for ensuring a peaceful and successful by-election.
“We are grateful to the security officers, we are also grateful to the Electoral Commission for how they conducted themselves,” he said.
“They were there to make sure the right thing was done, and the right thing was done indeed. The bigger congratulations also go to the general populace, I mean, the constituents who also conducted themselves in a manner that did not call for the intervention of the security. Generally, it was okay; we all played our parts.”
Mr. Baidoo assured residents that he would use his mandate to drive tangible improvements in Akwatia, stressing that fulfilling the aspirations of the people remains his top priority.
The NDC candidate emerged victorious in the closely contested by-election on Tuesday, September 2, reclaiming the crucial swing seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He polled 18,199 votes (54%), while his closest contender, Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the NPP, secured 15,235 votes. Owusu Patrick of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) managed 82 votes.
A total of 33,819 valid votes were cast, with 303 rejected ballots recorded.