Accra, March 3, – Commercial activity intensified across the Ayawaso East Constituency on Tuesday as the parliamentary by-election triggered a spike in patronage at the bustling Nima Market.
By mid-morning, vehicular congestion along the Nima stretch created significant gridlock, with residents, party supporters and observers converging to vote and transact business. Traders extended their stalls onto adjoining pavements and roadside spaces to capture increased foot traffic.
A wide range of goods dominated the market scene, including clothing, footwear, handbags, meat, fresh and smoked fish, tomatoes, onions, pepper and garden eggs. Staples such as rice, beans, gari, yam and plantain were in high demand, alongside cooking oil, spices, detergents, cosmetics, plastic ware and mobile phone accessories.
Food vendors reported exceptional turnover. Laura Hamisu, a caterer, said her sales tripled within two hours of opening. She attributed the surge partly to reduced competition, noting that some vendors observing the fasting period did not operate.
At the meat section, butcher Baba Razak expressed confidence that business would further improve as voter participation increased later in the day. Beyond the immediate gains, he said he hoped the eventual Member of Parliament would prioritise job creation for the area’s youth.
Some traders, however, appealed for structural improvements to the market. They cited persistent congestion and sanitation constraints as factors limiting productivity, especially during peak trading days.
Polling commenced at 0700 hours under tight security and is scheduled to close at 1700 hours. Ballot counting will occur at individual polling stations, with final collation by the Electoral Commission of Ghana at a designated constituency centre.
A total of 49,966 registered voters are expected to participate in the by-election, necessitated by the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Mr Naser Toure Mahama, in January 2026.
Five candidates are contesting the seat: Mr Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Baba Ali Yussif of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Ibrahim Iddrisu of the Liberal Party of Ghana, and independent candidates Mr Umar Sanda Mohammed and Mr David Akonor.
An opinion survey by Global InfoAnalytics projected a strong showing for the NDC candidate, consistent with the constituency’s long-standing electoral pattern.
Ayawaso East, located within the Accra Metropolitan Area of the Greater Accra Region, remains one of the capital’s most densely populated constituencies, where electoral cycles often stimulate short-term commercial expansion.
GHBUSS
3 March 2026
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