Dr. Prince Hamid Armah Urges NPP and NDC to Forego By-Elections in Tamale Central and Akwatia to Honor Fallen MPs

Former Kwesimintsim MP Dr. Prince Hamid Armah has called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to refrain from contesting the upcoming by-elections in Tamale Central and Akwatia, respectively, as a mark of respect for the late MPs Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Ernest Yaw Kumi.

The appeal follows the tragic Ghana Air Force Z9 helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, in Adansi Akrofuom, which claimed the life of Murtala Mohammed, the Tamale Central MP and Environment Minister, among eight fatalities.

In a poignant Facebook post, Armah stated, “Out of respect, NPP should step aside in Tamale Central. NDC should do the same in Akwatia. Honour their memory with silence, not slogans. Politics can wait. Dignity cannot.” The call, supported by figures like Kofi Bentil, emphasizes dignity over political ambition, with Bentil arguing that bypassing the by-elections would avoid “cost and acrimony” while honoring the fallen MPs who died in service.

The Tamale Central by-election was necessitated by Murtala Mohammed’s death, while the Akwatia by-election, scheduled for September 2, 2025, follows the passing of NPP MP Ernest Yaw Kumi on July 7, 2025, due to a brief illness. The NDC has selected Bernard Bediako Baidoo as its Akwatia candidate after a competitive primary on August 4, while the NPP has endorsed Solomon Kwame Asumadu.

Armah’s proposal has sparked discussions on X, with users echoing the sentiment for political restraint during this period of national mourning. However, both parties are preparing for the by-elections, with the NDC emphasizing democratic primaries and the NPP facing criticism for allegedly imposing candidates. As Ghana observes a three-day mourning period from August 7 to August 9, with flags at half-mast, the nation awaits the parties’ responses to Armah’s call for unity and respect.