NPP withdraws from Tamale Central by-election

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has declared that it will not participate in the forthcoming Tamale Central Parliamentary by-election, following the tragic demise of the area’s Member of Parliament, Alhaji Hon. Dr. Murtala Mohammed, in the August 6 helicopter crash.

Dr. Murtala Mohammed was among eight individuals who lost their lives when a military helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Adansi Akrofoum in the Ashanti Region.

The vacancy created by his passing in the Tamale Central seat requires preparations for a by-election, as mandated by Article 112(5) of Ghana’s Constitution.

In a statement signed by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party indicated that the decision was made during a National Steering Committee meeting held on Monday, August 11, 2025, at its national headquarters.

In accordance with Article 10(10)(1) of the NPP Constitution, the resolution was made in light of the “circumstances under which the Tamale Central seat has become vacant” and the need to avoid intensifying political divisions at a time of national mourning.

The NPP believes that embarking on a competitive process to replace the deceased MP would be inhumane and unconscionable.

The NPP has stressed the importance of avoiding tension and acrimony in Ghana’s by-elections.

To honor Dr. Murtala Mohammed and other crash victims, the party proposes intensifying the fight against illegal mining and ensuring a peaceful by-election process.

The NPP has announced its decision not to participate in the Tamale Central by-election, citing the national interest.

This decision has been described by political observers as a rare gesture of goodwill in Ghana’s highly competitive political climate, potentially paving the way for a consensus candidate or an uncontested by-election.