Akwatia voters chose NDC for government access, not performance – Asomadawine

Jacob Asomadawine, a member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Communications Team for the Navrongo Central Constituency, has downplayed the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) victory in the Akwatia by-election, attributing it to incumbency advantage rather than the party’s performance in government.

Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Wednesday, September 3, Asomadawine argued that the electorate voted for the NDC primarily because the party currently controls the reins of power.

“The reason why the people of Akwatia voted for the NDC is because the party is in power, and they know it would be easier for them to benefit from government if they supported an NDC candidate since John Mahama is president.” He stated.

He dismissed suggestions that the NDC’s win reflected strong governance or superior delivery under the Mahama administration. According to him, the perceived improvements in the economy are overstated.

“We are in 2025, the first year of the NDC government, and things will definitely go down. What we don’t realize is that they have not done anything extraordinary. The latest IMF report indicated that the appreciation of the cedi is artificial,” he added.

Despite the NPP’s loss in the by-election, Asomadawine expressed optimism about the party’s future electoral prospects. He noted that the NPP’s ability to secure significant votes, even in opposition, demonstrated its enduring strength.

“For the NPP to be in opposition, with all the forces the NDC marshaled into the elections, and we were still able to garner that many votes, then we are making progress. What this tells me is that if we continue doing things right, we will win.” He stressed.

The Akwatia by-election, held on Tuesday, September 2, has been a major political talking point, given the constituency’s history as a swing seat and its potential impact on the broader political landscape.

Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | David Adapuna