Ayawaso East By-Election: Counting underway after peaceful vote

Voting has ended in the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election, with electoral officials now counting ballots at polling stations across the constituency.

Polls opened at 7:00 a.m. and closed at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, as residents voted to elect a new Member of Parliament following the death of Naser Toure Mahama in January. The Electoral Commission (EC) is expected to declare the results later today.

Five candidates contested the seat:

· Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed (National Democratic Congress)
· Baba Ali Yusif (New Patriotic Party)
· Umar Sanda Mohammed (Independent)
· David Kanor (Independent)
· Ibrahim Iddrisu (Liberal Party of Ghana)

Voter turnout appeared low across several polling stations, though voting proceeded peacefully throughout the day. Party agents from both the NDC and NPP maintained close observation as counting commenced.

EC Director Sam Dottoh Kwaah confirmed the Commission’s preparedness for the exercise. “All categories of officials for the by-election had been recruited and trained to smoothly manage the election,” he said. Each of the 113 polling stations was equipped with two Biometric Verification Devices, with all ballot papers and materials delivered on Saturday.

Security was visibly present, with approximately 80 police officers deployed to each polling station. Assistant Superintendent Asong Ayrakwa assured residents: “Every electoral area will have about 80 police officers to protect everyone. So everyone should come out and vote freely.”

The election followed controversy after the NDC expelled one of its members, Umaru Sanda Mohammed, for contesting as an independent candidate. National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah stated: “It will take him about eight years before he can contest any position in the party. Even if, after the by-election, he decides to return, he cannot contest immediately and would have to wait until 2032.”

Ayawaso East has historically been an NDC stronghold. In the 2024 general election, the late Alhaji Mahama secured 22,139 votes (70.85%), while the NPP candidate received 9,110 votes (29.15%).

All attention is now focused on the counting centres as the constituency awaits its new parliamentary representative.