Kumawu By-election: NDC witnesses significant increase in votes, raises concerns for NPP’s voter apathy – Sammy Gyamfi

In a statement, Sammy Gyamfi brings attention to the voting results of the Kumawu by-election compared to the 2020 general elections, emphasizing the progress made by the NDC.

During the 2020 general elections, the NDC's Parliamentary Candidate for the Kumawu Constituency received 2,439 votes, which accounted for 8.3% of valid votes, according to the certified results from the Electoral Commission (EC).

However, in the recently concluded Kumawu by-election, the EC's announced results indicate that the NDC's Parliamentary Candidate obtained 3,723 votes, representing 17.29%. This signifies a significant increase of 1,284 parliamentary votes for the NDC.

It is important to note that in the 2020 general elections, the NPP's Parliamentary candidate for the Kumawu Constituency secured 14,960 votes, constituting 51.11% of valid votes, while an independent candidate affiliated with the NPP garnered 11,698 votes, representing 39.96% of valid votes.

Interestingly, in the recent by-election, the NPP candidate received 15,264 votes, while the independent candidate gathered only 2,478 votes.

In terms of numerical significance, despite the extensive vote-buying witnessed in Kumawu, the NPP managed to increase their votes by a mere 304, while approximately 8,000 voters who supported the independent candidate from the NPP in 2020 chose not to participate in the by-election (assuming they are actual individuals).

To summarize, the NDC experienced a substantial increase of 1,284 votes, whereas the NPP's vote count rose by only 304. The NPP also faced significant voter apathy and/or low turnout.

Undoubtedly, the NPP must be concerned about the concerning level of voter apathy in Kumawu, which could potentially have implications for the upcoming 2024 presidential elections.

Considering Kumawu's status as one of the NPP's strongholds in the Ashanti region and taking into account the unprecedented vote-buying activities observed during the run-up to the Kumawu by-election by the NPP and the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, the results of the by-election can be considered a victory for the NDC. Nonetheless, there is room for further improvement for the NDC.