The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to withdraw from the upcoming parliamentary by-election for the Akwatia Constituency, which is slated for September 2, 2025.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on August 11, 2025, Nana Boakye, aka Nana B, asserted that the NDC must withdraw from the Akwatia by-election, just as his party has withdrawn from the Tamale Central by-election, whose Member of Parliament, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, died in the tragic August 6 helicopter crash.
He asserted that the ruling party, as a sign of respect for the five people it lost in the helicopter crash, should not go into active politics just after burying these people.
NPP withdraws from Tamale Central by-election
“That is my expectation, but then we leave it to them. The reason why I say so is that Akwatia is in the Eastern Region, and the NDC has lost five important party dignitaries, and we are mourning with them. So, for me, you have a stalwart like Hon. from the Eastern Region, I would say that right after the state burial, then we enter into such fierce contest, for me it will not serve his memory right.
“I would say that if I were in the NDC, I think that the tension in the country, we can lower it, we can bring it down,” he said.
“Recently, we had Ablekuma, which was a negative story, and then we’ve had this devastating news of this helicopter crash, and after this, we have a by-election ahead of us… It is their decision to make. For us, we are of the view that we do not think that we need to contest in the Tamale Central by-election,” he added.
The Akwatia seat became vacant following the death of the Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi.
Akwatia by-election set for September 2
Ernest Yaw Kumi passed away on July 7, 2025, at the age of 40, after a brief illness.
A first-term MP representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kumi won the closely contested December 2024 election against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Henry Yiadom Boakye, securing 19,269 votes to Boakye’s 17,206.
However, his victory was marred by controversy, with the NDC alleging electoral irregularities, leading to a legal battle. A legal challenge against Kumi’s victory was pending at the time of his death.
His seat was subsequently declared vacant following his passing.
Source:radiogoldlive.com
