Mussa Dankwa, the Executive Director of Global Info Analytics, has said it’s against democratic principles for the NPP to withdraw from a by-election because someone died.
According to Mussa Dankwa, the NPP cannot pick and choose, and there must be a contest.
He is quoted by JOY NEWS to have stated, “It’s against democratic principles for the NPP to withdraw from a by-election because of death. We can’t pick and choose. There must be a contest”.
His comments come after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced that it would not be contesting in the Tamale Central Parliamentary by-election.
According to the NPP, their decision comes following a National Steering Committee meeting held on Monday, August 11, 2025.
The NPP asserts that they believe it would be inhumane and unconscionable to subject the nation to a competitive process in search of a replacement for the late Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.
Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Dr Omane Boamah passed away following a helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6.
The helicopter was carrying eight individuals, including three crew members and five passengers, among them the ministers, a presidential staffer identified as Samuel Sarpong, and the ministers’ security detail.
Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, and Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of NDC, have all been confirmed dead.
The crew members are Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
In a statement signed by Justin Kodua, the NPP General Secretary, on August 11, 2025, read, “The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has resolved that it would not take part in the Tamale Central Parliamentary by-election to elect a replacement for the late Alhaji Hon. Dr Murtala Mohammed, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Constituency, who was among the ecight (8) who lost their lives in service of the Republic in the helicopter crash that occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The decision was taken by the Party at a National Steering Committee meeting held on Monday, August 11, 2025, at the Party Headquarters pursuant to Article 10(10)(1) of the Party Constitution”.
The statement added, “In arriving at the decision, the Party considered many factors, including 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.
The NPP is of the belief that it would be inhumane and unconscionable to subject the nation to a competitive process in search of a replacement for the departed MP. The Party believes that the tension and acrimony often associated with the conduct of by-elections in the country should be avoided”.
The NPP statement continued, “It is the considered view of the Party that the greatest tribute that the NPP and the rest of the nation can pay in honour of the departed is not only to win the fight against Galamsey but also to ensure a smooth and peaceful replacement for the good people of Tamale Central.
Consequently, the NPP hereby announces that when the Electoral Commission of Ghana opens nominations for the Tamale Central by-election in line with Article 12 (5) of Ghana’s Constitution, the Party will, in accord with the national interest, not take part in the contest”.
However, Ghana’s Article 112(5) of the 1992 constitution states that whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk of Parliament notifies the Electoral Commission in writing within seven days.
A by-election is then held within thirty days after the vacancy occurred, except that where the vacancy occurred through the death of a member, the by-election shall be held within sixty days after the occurrence of the vacancy.
The 112(5) added that a by-election shall not be held within three months before the holding of a general election.
See the post below:
It's against democratic principles to withdraw from a by-election because someone died… – Mussa Dankwah (Exec. Dir., Global InfoAnalytics) tells NPP #GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/FcFeyBQXHn
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) August 11, 2025