 has announced that the Tamale Central by-election will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.){kind=link}
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that the Tamale Central by-election will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
The announcement of the by-election follows the death of Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, the member of parliament for the area.
As per Ghana’s constitution, the seat is now rendered in accordance with Article 112(5) of the Constitution.
The late Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed died in the August 6 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians.
The Electoral Commission, in a statement signed by the EC Chairperson, Madam Jean Mensa stated, “The Electoral Commission wishes to announce for the information of the General Public that, following the unfortunate death of the Member of Parliament for the Tamale Central Constituency; Hon. Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, the seat of the Constituency in Parliament has become vacant. In accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Commission will hold a By-Election in the Constituency on Tuesday, 30th September, 2025.
Accordingly, the Commission will receive Nominations from prospective Candidates for the Election of a Member of Parliament for the said Constituency. The Nominations will be received at the Tamale Metropolitan Office of the Commission from 8th September 2025 to 10th September 2025 between the hours of 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on each day. Interested Candidates are required to download the Nomination Forms from the Commission’s website www.ec.gov.gh) from 19th August, 2025 to 10th September, 2025”.
The EC statement added, “A prospective Candidate may personally deliver or cause to be delivered on his/her behalf, by either the Proposer or Seconder of his/her Nomination, the completed Nomination Forms to the Returning Officer at the Tamale Metropolitan Office of the Commission on the dates and times stated above.
The Nomination Forms for each Candidate shall be witnessed by the signature or mark of two registered voters as Proposer and Seconder, and supported by eighteen other registered voters in the Constituency as assenting to the Nominations”.
Jean Mensa’s statement further noted, “The Nomination Forms shall also be endorsed with the Candidate’s consent to the Nomination.
A Candidate shall, at the time of submitting his/her completed Nomination Forms, provide the Returning Officer with two (2) copies of a recent postcard (bust-sized) photograph against a red background, showing his/her full face and ears.
The filing fee for the election is Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC10,000.00) per Candidate. However, the filing fee for Female Candidates and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) is/ Seven Thousand Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHC7,500.00)”.
Meanwhile, the NPP has decided not to contest the Tamale Central 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.
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 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.
Also, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has thanked the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for opting out of the Tamale Central by-election.
Speaking during the engagement, Asideu Nketia stated, “I want to use this opportunity to thank you. I have heard that Tamale Central. You have issued a statement that when the time comes, you will not partake. We thank you”.
He added, “If someone beats you for you to go to private, it is better for you to go by yourself, that will be simple. So we thank you, but Akwatia, we are coming”.
See the statement below:
TAMALE CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTION pic.twitter.com/JpWTagPM1S
— Electoral Commission Of Ghana (@ECGhanaOfficial) August 19, 2025