Introduction
In Ghana’s democratic system, by-elections are held when a parliamentary seat becomes vacant during the tenure of a Parliament.
Following the recent passing of the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) of the Akwatia Constituency, Ernest Kumi, the Electoral Commission oversaw a by-election that was held on September 2, 2025.
Another by-election was slated for September 30, 2025, in the Tamale Central Constituency, following the death of the MP for the area, Murtala Mohammed Ibrahim, creating another vacancy in Parliament.
However, the Electoral Commission on September 23, 2025, declared Alidu Seidu Mahama as the MP- elect of the Tamale Central Constituency after the extended deadline for filing nominations closed at 5:00pm on September 21, 2025. With no other candidate filing to contest, the Political Science lecturer representing the NDC emerged unopposed.
What the Constitution says about by-elections
According to Article 97 of the 1992 Constitution, a parliamentary seat is declared vacant on the following grounds:
- Upon dissolution of parliament
- Death or resignation of an MP
- If an MP is elected as Speaker of Parliament
- If an MP is expelled or removed from Parliament, disqualified or ineligible for election
- If an MP elected on a party ticket joins another party or becomes an independent member,
- Or if an independent MP later joins a party
According to Article 112, (clauses 5 and 6) of the 1992 constitution; “(5)Whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk of Parliament shall notify the Electoral Commission in writing within seven days after becoming aware that the vacancy has occurred; and a by-election shall be held within thirty days after the vacancy occurred except that where the vacancy occurred through the death of a member, the by-election shall be held within sixty days after the occurrence of the vacancy.”
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“(6) Notwithstanding clause (5) of this article, a by-election shall not be held within three months before the holding of a general election.”
By-Elections in the 4th Republic of Ghana
Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1993, Ghana has witnessed 35 by-elections across parliaments, which mostly favoured the ruling party.
| Parliament | By-elections | NDC wins | NPP wins | Others | |
| First (1993 – 1997) | 4 | 3 | – | 1 (IND) | |
| Second (1997 – 2001) | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Third (2001 – 2005) | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||
| Fourth (2005 – 2009) | 6 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Fifth (2009 – 2013) | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Sixth (2013 – 2017) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 (CPP) | |
| Seventh (2017 – 2021) | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Eighth (2021 – 2025) | 3 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Ninth (2025 – 2029) | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Totals | 35 | 16 | 17 | 2 |
In the 1st Parliament of the 4th Republic (1993 to 1996), there were four (4) by-elections. The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) won three of them in New Edubiase, Wenchi East, and Tano South, while the fourth, held in Navrongo Central in 1995, was won by an independent candidate, John Setuni Achuliwor.
This period was dominated by the NDC, which was the only party represented in Parliament following the opposition’s boycott of the 1992 parliamentary elections.
In the 2nd Parliament (1997-2000), two by-elections were held. The NDC won in Lambussie with Alice Teni Boon, while the NPP secured a win in Ablekuma Central through Victor Okuley Nortey.
The 3rd Parliament (2001-2004) witnessed a wave of by-elections, seven (7) in total, all of which were won by the New Patriotic Party (NPP). These included seats in Kumawu, Bimbilla, Wulensi, Navrongo Central, Gomoa East, Amenfi West, and Upper Denkyira.
During the 4th Parliament (2005-2008), six (6) by-elections were conducted. These were split between the two main political parties. The NDC won in Asawase, Odododiodio, and Tamale Central, while the NPP secured victories in Offinso South, Fomena, and Nkoranza North.
The 5th Parliament (2009-2012) saw three by-elections. The NDC won in Chereponi and Jirapa, while the NPP secured a win in Atiwa.
In the 6th Parliament (2013-2016), another seven (7) by-elections were held, including a notable win by the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in Kumbungu. The NDC won in Akatsi South, Buem, Talensi, and Amenfi West, while the NPP captured Abuakwa North and Abetifi.
There was only one by-election during the 7th Parliament (2017-2020), which took place in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, and was won by the NPP’s Lydia Seyram Alhassan.
In the 8th Parliament (2021-2024), three by-elections were held. The NPP won in Kumawu and Ejisu, while the NDC reclaimed the Assin North seat through James Gyakie Quayson after a legal battle over eligibility issues.
As of the 9th and current Parliament, beginning in 2025, two by-elections have been held so far, in the Akwatia and Tamale Central Constituency.
The NDC won both seats with Bernard Bediako as the elected MP in Akwatia and Alidu Seidu Mahama as elected-MP in Tamale Central.
While the NDC and NPP have dominated the by-election landscape, one independent and a CPP candidate have recorded victories, adding to the complexity of Ghana’s electoral story. Across all 35 by-elections, the NPP has won 17, the NDC has won 16, the CPP has won 1, and an independent candidate has won 1.
Breakdown of ‘By-elections’ in the 4th Republic of Ghana
| Year | Constituency | Party | MP |
| 1993 | New Edubiase | NDC | Theresa Joyce Baffoe |
| 1995 | Wenchi East Tano South Navrongo Central | NDC NDC Independent | Hayford Osei Kwadwo Nana Koduah Kwarteng John Setuni Achuliwor |
| 1999 | Lambussie Ablekuma Central | NDC NPP | Alice Teni Boon Victor Okuley Nortey |
| 2002 | Kumawu Bimbilla | NPP NPP | Yaw Baah Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul |
| 2003 | Wulensi Navrongo Central Gomoa East Amenfi West | NPP NPP NPP NPP | Kofi Karim Wumbei Joseph Kofi Adda Richmond Sam Quarm Agnes Sonful |
| 2004 | Upper Denkyira | NPP | Benjamin Kofi Ayeh |
| 2005 | Asawase Odododiodio | NDC NDC | Muntaka Mubarak Jonathan Nii Tackie Kommey |
| 2006 | Offinso South Tamale Central | NPP NDC | Owusu Achaw Duah Fuseini Inusah |
| 2007 | Fomena Nkoranza North | NPP NPP | Nana Abu Bonsra Derrick Oduro |
| 2009 | Chereponi Jirapa | NDC NDC | Samuel Jabanyite Francis Dakura Bawaana |
| 2010 | Atiwa | NPP | Kwasi Amoako-Atta |
| 2013 | Akatsi South Buem Kumbungu | NDC NDC CPP | Bernard Ahiafor Daniel Kosi Ashiamah Amadu Yahya |
| 2015 | Talensi Amenfi West | NDC NDC | Benson Tongo Baba Eric Afful |
| 2016 | Abuakwa North Abetifi | NPP NPP | Gifty Twum Ampofo Bryan Acheampong |
| 2019 | Ayawaso West Wuogon | NPP | Lydia Seyram Alhassan |
| 2023 | Kumawu Assin North | NPP NDC | Ernest Yaw Anim James Gyakie Quayson |
| 2024 | Ejisu | NPP | Kwabena Boateng |
| 2025 | Akwatia Tamale Central | NDC NDC | Bernard Bediako Alidu Seidu Mahama |
By Nusrat Essah
