Political analyst Samuel Boateng believes the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not genuinely concerned about the tragic death of Dr Murtala Mohammed, one of the victims of the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central.
The NPP decided not to contest the by-election for the seat, a move Boateng describes as a “terrible decision at a rather good time politically.”
In an interview with Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Boateng argued that the decision goes against Ghana’s democratic principles.
He maintained that political parties should participate in elections to deepen democracy, stating, “You cannot force anyone to contest. However, to help deepen our democracy, political parties ought to participate in our elections.”
He added, “The parties cannot decide for Ghanaians or pick and choose what they want to do.”
While acknowledging the tragic situation, Boateng suggested the NPP might have withdrawn as a sign of respect for the late MP.
However, he quickly added that the party likely considered the political benefits.
He believes the NPP’s internal assessment concluded they could not win the seat, making the withdrawal a strategic move.
“It is impossible for the NPP to win that seat, and so strategically, they have withdrawn from the by-election,” he said.
When asked about the internal effects of the decision, Boateng said that while there is no “perfect time to make a perfect decision,” the party may have made an “unwise political decision without consulting the grassroots in the constituency.”
He stressed that contesting the by-election, despite the collective grief, would have helped the party gauge its popularity in the constituency.
He also questioned whether the NPP would have withdrawn from the by-election if Tamale Central were their stronghold.
Samuel Boateng further challenged the NPP to withdraw from the Akwatia by-election, arguing that even a win there would have no significant impact on their numbers in parliament.
He concluded by reiterating his belief that the NPP’s withdrawal is a strategic move based on their inability to win the seat, rather than a genuine act of honoring Dr Mohammed’s memory.
