National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has assured the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that although the ruling party has opted out of the upcoming by-election in the Tamale Central Constituency, the NDC will fully participate in the Akwatia by-election.
The Akwatia parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of Ernest Kumi, the NPP Member of Parliament for the area. In line with electoral procedures, the Electoral Commission (EC) declared the seat vacant and set September 2, 2025, for the by-election.
Both parties have already elected candidates for the contest — the NPP endorsing Solomon Kwame Asumadu and the NDC selecting Bernard Bediako Baidoo.
Meanwhile, the Tamale Central seat fell vacant after the tragic death of MP Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed in a helicopter crash last week, which claimed eight lives. Although the EC has yet to officially declare the seat vacant and set a date for the by-election, the NPP has announced it will not contest that race.
Speaking when NPP General Secretary Justin Frimpong-Kodua and other party executives paid a courtesy call to the NDC to commiserate over the loss of its members in the crash, Asiedu Nketiah thanked the NPP for its gesture in Tamale Central but made it clear the NDC would not step aside in Akwatia.
“We thank you for withdrawing from contesting the Tamale Central by-election,” he said. “We wish to state that we shall contest the Akwatia by-election.”
Touching on security ahead of the September 2 poll, Asiedu Nketiah warned that threats from certain youth groups could lead to serious consequences if not addressed.
“Let us collectively take the necessary measures to ensure that peace is maintained,” he urged.
The Akwatia by-election is expected to be a keenly contested race despite the recent show of political solidarity between the two major parties in the wake of the August 6 tragedy.
