New Juaben South MP Okyere Baafi Makes New Promise After Akwatia Fiasco: "I Won't Contest in 2028"
- The MP for New Juaben South has announced he won't seek re-election in 2028, citing growing monetisation in Ghana's politics
- Michael Okyere Baafi announced this while reacting to the Akwatia by-election, which the NDC's Bernard Bediako Baidoo won
- The opposition politician had previously promised to resign if the NPP lost the by-election, but later apologised for his bold comment
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Michael Okyere Baafi, the New Patriotic Party MP for New Juaben South, has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2028.
The Member of Parliament said he based his decision on the apparent growing trend of monetisation in Ghana's political sphere.
Source: Facebook
"If this is how our politics is turning, then the world is becoming scarier. That's why some of us, and I, have said that after this term, I won't seek re-election in 2028," he said.
Okyere Baafi made these remarks while reacting to the outcome of the Akwatia by-election held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
Before the elections, he had predicted victory for the NPP, promising to resign from Parliament if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won.
However, after the close of polls on Tuesday, the NDC's candidate, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, was declared as the MP-elect for Akwatia by the Electoral Commission.
Speaking to Kumasi-based Asaasepa FM, the New Juaben South MP apologised for his comments, admitting that he had gone too far.
"When my people were being discouraged because, three days before the election, the NDC started constructing roads in the area. They brought a truckload of spray machines, hair dryers, and fertilisers. I had no option but to encourage my people that we were winning this election, and that's why I made the statement that if we lost, I would resign. I, however, apologise to Ghanaians for my resignation comment; I went too far," he said.
Okyere Baafi also accused the NDC of vote buying, claiming that they had influenced the decisions of the people with money and goodies.
"Considering the work that we did, the strengths of the candidates involved, and the massive crowd that followed us, I was confident that we were going to win the election. However, on the day of the election, they came up with a plan just to buy votes. So, they were buying votes, paying between GH¢500 and GH¢1,000 to every voter," he said.
Watch Okyere Baafi's video about his resignation remarks below:
Ghanaians react to Okyere Baafi's apology
Following his interview with Asaasepa FM, some Ghanaians on social media flocked to the comments section to react to his apology.
YEN.com.gh compiled a few of the comments below.
@Ed bad said:
"So he knew this and still said he would resign if NDC won."
@Escobar GH also said:
"Where is ur evidence that NDC shares 1000?"
@Alfred classroom commented:
"How did this guy pass his exams and even become an MP... Q1.what brought about low turnout ...An..It's because the NDC put fear into voters with the police. Simple, I believe that was what the host wanted to hear."
Source: Facebook
NDC snatches Akwatia seat from NPP
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported that NDC parliamentary candidate Bernard Bediako was declared the winner of the Akwatia by-election.
The ruling party politician defeated the New Patriotic Party's Solomon Kwame Asumadu in the election held with a heavy police presence.
The Ghanaian Electoral Commission announced that Bediako had polled 18,188 votes while Asumadu polled 15,235 votes in the by-election.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
