Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Digital Centres Limited and a seasoned public relations specialist, Dzifa Gunu, has praised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what he describes as a “bold and respectful” approach in the recently concluded Akwatia by-election, attributing the party’s victory to grassroots engagement, inclusivity, and discipline.
In a statement reflecting on the election, Gunu said the NDC “respected the people of Akwatia and allowed democracy to guide them” by opening fresh nominations rather than imposing a candidate.
“The NDC opened nominations, invited all eligible aspirants to pick up forms, go through vetting, and contest a proper internal election. It was a daring and respectful process,” Gunu stated.
The Akwatia seat became vacant following a controversial loss in the 2024 parliamentary elections, which Gunu said had left the party determined to rebuild trust with constituents. He contrasted the NDC’s approach with that of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), accusing the ruling party of handpicking a candidate rather than engaging its grassroots.
“While the NDC opened up the process, Kodua and his people sat in Asylum Down and imposed a candidate on the NPP. There was no competitive process on their side,” he alleged.
Gunu acknowledged that tragedy struck the NDC during its campaign preparations, temporarily slowing its activities. By the time the party regrouped, only two weeks remained before the polls, giving the NPP an early advantage after weeks of campaigning.
Despite the setback, Gunu said the NDC executed a “surgical operation” on the ground, with a well-coordinated effort led by national, regional, constituency, and branch executives.
“There was no funfair, no grand rallies. The leadership went straight to work with a targeted campaign, and it paid off,” he said.
According to Gunu, the outcome demonstrates that political parties can win elections through strategy and respect for voters, not just power and resource deployment.
“This victory shows that we are reshaping the political atmosphere in Ghana. The NDC has set a new standard, and the people rewarded us for it,” he added.
The NDC reclaimed the seat with what Gunu described as a “resounding victory”, crediting local party structures and campaign discipline for the turnaround.
