Former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the Akwatia by-election, describing the atmosphere as calm and orderly despite political tensions in the constituency.
Speaking to journalists after visiting some polling stations, Mr. Awuku applauded the security arrangements, noting that the presence of a strong police force had helped maintain peace during the voting process.
“I am very pleased with the atmosphere here in Akwatia today. There are enough police officers on the ground, and that has significantly contributed to the smooth execution of the voting process,” he said.
Mr. Awuku, who is campaigning for the opposition New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Solomon Asumadu, expressed hope that the memory of the late Ernest Yaw Kumi, whose passing necessitated the by-election, would inspire victory for the party.
“We believe the spirit of the late Ernest Yaw Kumi is with us today, and it will guide Solomon Asumadu to victory. Ultimately, the reason why the people are casting their votes will be realized once we secure a win for our candidate,” he stated.
Touching on the political climate, Mr. Awuku reflected on past by-elections, suggesting that today’s exercise would also be a “historical formality.” He urged all parties to prioritise peace and cautioned the media against bias in its coverage.
“I want to appeal to the media to be fair and balanced. If any political figure or individual attempts to instigate trouble, call them out — whether they are from the NDC or the NPP. Let us protect the integrity of this process,” he emphasised.
Voting is ongoing across all 119 polling stations in the constituency under heavy security presence, with reports so far pointing to a largely calm and incident-free process.
