Deputy Director of Elections and IT of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sofo Tanko Rashid Computer, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of shying away from the Tamale Central by-election due to fear of humiliation.
In an official statement signed by the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, following a National Steering Committee meeting at the NPP headquarters, by Article 10(10)(1) of the Party’s Constitution announced it will not participate in the forthcoming Tamale Central parliamentary by-election to replace the late Alhaji Dr Murtala Mohammed, who died alongside seven others in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6.
According to the statement, the Party reached its decision after weighing “the circumstances under which the Tamale Central seat has become vacant and the possibility of a further polarisation of the country at this critical time.”
Speaking to Johnnie Hughes on 3FM Sunrise on Tuesday, August 12th 2025, the NDC Deputy Director of NDC and IT argued that the NPP was bound to lose the Tamale Central should they have contested.
“The NPP has done their political calculation and has seen the need not to humiliate themselves the more. Because the NDC is strong and Ghanaians have confidence in them, and their policies are working for them. So, if we contest them, we will humiliate ourselves. That is why they are running from the glaring and obvious defeat,” Rashid Tanko said.
He also questions the NPP’s motive for declaring not to contest the Tamale Central Parliamentary seat despite the uncompletion of the final funeral rites of the deceased.
“Why won’t the NPP wait for us to conclude the final funeral rites of all the people involved in the helicopter crash before rushing with this statement? They should have waited until after 15th August for us to battle it out.” He said.
A Policy Analyst and a Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Joshua Jebunite Zaato, believes that the NPP’s withdrawal from the Tamale Central is the most fitting way to honour the late MP’s memory.
“Let’s think and believe that the President was being genuine by calling on all Ghanaians to eschew anything that will bring divisiveness. The NPP is also being sincere by withdrawing from the Tamale Central by-election in line with the President’s call for unity.” Dr. Zaato argues.
