40-year-old lawyer, Bernard Bediako Baidoo has been selected as the candidate for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the upcoming Akwatia constituency parliamentary by-election.

He defeated his closest contender Erasmus Koney Ali, by 380 votes to 366 votes, while Henry Yiadom Boakye, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the area got 226 votes.

A total of 975 voted of which three votes were rejected. 

In all, 1,075 delegates were expected to cast their votes, but 101 could not make it.

Mr. Baidoo was declared the winner by an official of the Electoral Commission (EC), John Appiah Bamfo.

The Electoral Commission has scheduled September 2 for the by-election following the death of Eric Kumi, who was the Member of Parliament for the area on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mr. Baidoo expressed gratitude to the delegates, as well as his contender for a decent and incident-free election.

He asked supporters of the party to continue to remain united and work very hard to help snatch the seat from the NPP.

"My victory today is not for me alone but the entire NDC family in the constituency. We have to bury our differences and forge ahead in unity to win the seat from the NPP at the by-election," he said.

According to Mr Baidoo, the electorate were tired of NPP in the constituency and he was hopeful that they would vote massively for him to support President John Dramani Mahama deliver on his promises.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey who was highly elated about the peaceful nature of the election congratulated delegates for such a feat.