The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has formally announced its decision to contest the forthcoming Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election, dismissing calls for the party to withdraw from the race.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, revealed that the party has already begun processes to identify and select a strong and widely accepted candidate to compete for the vacant seat.
“The New Patriotic Party will contest the Ayawaso East by-election, and as I speak to you, we are conducting a candidate search to ensure that we field a very good and well-accepted candidate,” Mr. Kodua Frimpong stated.
The by-election has become necessary following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, Mahama Naser Toure of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026, after a period of illness.
Mr. Kodua Frimpong’s remarks come amid public comments by the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Michael Kpakpo Allotey, who urged the NPP to refrain from contesting the election. The AMA boss reportedly argued that Ayawaso East is a stronghold of the NDC and that the NPP would be wasting resources by participating.
Reacting to this appeal, the NPP General Secretary expressed surprise, stressing that the party has consistently taken part in by-elections across the country regardless of perceived political strongholds.
“Why shouldn’t we contest? I was very surprised and shocked by that statement. This is not the first by-election we have had in this country,” he said. “It is not a matter of whether the constituency is an NDC stronghold or not. We are going to contest, and we are going to make sure that we win the seat.”
Mahama Naser Toure, who represented Ayawaso East, was pronounced dead at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. His Janazah prayers were held at the National Mosque in Kanda, and he was subsequently laid to rest at the Madina Cemetery on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Under Ghana’s electoral laws, the death of a sitting Member of Parliament requires the Electoral Commission to organise a by-election to elect a new representative for the constituency.
Ayawaso East is traditionally considered an NDC stronghold, with the late Mahama Naser Toure having won the parliamentary seat in four consecutive elections from 2012 to 2024.
Meanwhile, a du’a (memorial prayer) in honour of the late MP has been scheduled for Sunday, January 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the National Mosque in Kanda. The event was confirmed by the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso North, Yusif Jajah.
As preparations continue toward the by-election, the NPP’s declaration signals a highly competitive contest, despite the constituency’s longstanding political history.
Source: Yen.com.gh
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