The Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko-Computer, has criticised former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for his comments on the death of the late Akwatia MP.
Tanko-Computer says the comments from Dr. Bawumia are reckless, expressing shock that such a statement could be coming from a statesman.
The former Vice President, and a 2024 flag-bearer hopeful for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), during a campaign visit to Akwatia ahead of Tuesday’s by-election, blamed the demise of the former MP on the NDC.
Dr. Bawumia said the late MP died from the pressure and sleeplessness he endured due to the legal tussle instigated by the NDC to challenge his legitimacy in Parliament.
The former Vice President believes the court case became an intimidation factor for him, taking a toll on his health and subsequently leading to his death.
“The NDC’s court case against the late Ernest Kumi, coupled with intimidation, caused him sleeplessness and raised his pressure. Twenty-six days after the court’s final verdict, he died,” Dr. Bawumia said in Twi, while addressing chiefs and residents of Wenchi on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
Reacting to the comments exclusively to TV3’s Eric Mawuena Egbeta in Akwatia, Tanko-Computer said such utterances are not worthy of a statesman, questioning the NPP’s intention on the 2012 election petition, if what Dr. Bawumia said is anything to go by.
“Such reckless statement should not be coming from a statesman. Very reckless statement. A statesman of that stature, should not be making such utterances. Have they forgotten so soon, in 2012, we won election, very clear mandate. They dragged our then President to court for 8 months, wasted our time in court for 8 months. Was their intention to kill the President?” he quizzed.
“The pressure they gave the then NDC administration, was it meant to give us torture?” he added.
He went on to question the NPP’s intentions regarding the Assin North by-election, stating that the lawmaker, James Gyakye Quayson, underwent trauma throughout the process.
“Is that what he is telling us? What sent us to Assin North? Flimsy issues they sent us to court, just to make sure that they get him out from Parliament. The man went through trauma.”
The Electoral Commission, following the death of former Akwatia MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, is organising a by-election to elect his replacement.
The election is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
