NPP Declines Tamale Central By-Election Participation; Political Analysts Debate Strategy and Gesture

NPP Declines Tamale Central By-Election Participation; Political Analysts Debate Strategy and Gesture

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially announced it will not contest the upcoming Tamale Central Parliamentary by-election, following the death of the constituency’s Member of Parliament, Alhaji Hon. Dr. Murtala Mohammed, in the August 6 military helicopter crash.

In a statement signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party said the decision, reached at a National Steering Committee meeting on Monday, August 11, was made in line with Article 10(10)(1) of the NPP Constitution. The party cited the need to avoid heightened political tensions and to ensure a peaceful and respectful replacement process for the people of Tamale Central.

The NPP emphasized that its priority at this time is not political competition but national unity, noting that a by-election in the current climate could deepen divisions. “It would be inhumane and unconscionable to subject the nation to competitive processes in search of a replacement for the departed MP,” the statement read.

Political watchers have praised the move as a mark of political maturity and respect for the departed. Attention now turns to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), with many observers wondering whether it will reciprocate the gesture by declining to contest the Akwatia by-election. That seat became vacant following the sudden death of Ernest Yaw Kumi, with polls scheduled for early September.

Some analysts, however, suggest the NPP’s decision may also carry strategic underpinnings. Tamale Central has long been an NDC stronghold, especially since the defection of then-incumbent Professor Wayo Seini to the NPP in 2006. His departure paved the way for the NDC to cement its hold on the seat, first with Inusah Fuseini and later with the late Murtala Mohammed, who previously represented the Nanton Constituency.

In contrast, Akwatia has a history as a swing seat, changing hands multiple times between the NPP and NDC. The late Ernest Yaw Kumi reclaimed it for the NPP in 2024 after legal battles, until his untimely death. Analysts believe the NPP would have faced a likely defeat in Tamale Central but could still mount a competitive race in Akwatia.

This is not the first time Ghana’s two major political parties have stepped aside in a by-election under similar circumstances. In the run-up to the Ejisu by-election—triggered by the passing of MP and Deputy Finance Minister John Kuma—the NDC also opted out, citing national unity. Political observers at the time noted the strategic nature of the decision, as Ejisu was an NPP stronghold.

Whether the NDC will mirror the NPP’s latest move in Akwatia remains to be seen, but both decisions could set a precedent for handling politically sensitive by-elections in Ghana.