The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has called for restraint and unity within the party as it navigates the process of selecting a successor to the late Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, who tragically lost his life in the recent helicopter crash.
Speaking in the aftermath of the tragedy, Hon. Asiedu Nketiah expressed gratitude to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for their public declaration that they would not field a candidate in the upcoming by-election for the Tamale Central seat.
He described this gesture as a challenge to the NDC to avoid internal strife in choosing a replacement, stressing the importance of honouring the late MP’s memory.
“On behalf of the party, I want to beg everybody not to let us rush over each other as to who should succeed the late Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Because in doing so, we may end up dishonouring his memory.”
Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
Hon. Asiedu Nketiah emphasised that the NDC leadership would take a measured approach to the succession process, assuring party members that a formal decision would be made after due consultations. “Let’s wait. We’ll convene a political committee meeting, and we’ll come back and advise on what should be done,” he added.
The NDC Chairman also reflected on the pain and shock the party and the nation have endured since the crash, urging members to find strength in their shared faith and resilience. “God has formed us in such a way that as the days go by, the pain lessens. So I want to urge everybody to gather courage since this tragic event,” he said.
Call to Uphold God’s Divine Will
In addressing the wave of public commentary and so-called prophecies that have surfaced in the wake of the incident, Hon. Asiedu Nketiah was firm in his belief that the tragedy was an act of divine will, not human foresight.
“We have heard a lot of people talking about how they prophesied it was going to happen. But I believe as a Christian, and I believe that it is so with the Muslims, that nothing happens on the blind side of Allah. Whether you see it coming or you never saw it coming, it was ordained by the Almighty Allah”.
Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
The passing of Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed has left a significant gap in the NDC’s parliamentary front. Known for his outspoken nature and advocacy for social justice, the late MP served his constituents with dedication, first representing the Nanton constituency before winning the Tamale Central seat.
His untimely death has been met with an outpouring of grief from colleagues, political opponents, and constituents alike. The upcoming by-election in Tamale Central, though uncontested by the NPP, will be closely watched as a test of the NDC’s internal cohesion and organisational discipline
Hon. Asiedu Nketiah’s appeal appears aimed at preventing the kind of factionalism that could weaken the party’s unity at a critical moment.
Ruling parties often faced intense competition in internal primaries, especially in their strongholds. In some cases, such contests have left lingering divisions that impact the party’s performance in elections.
The NDC Chairman’s intervention, therefore, reflects both a strategic and an emotional response—seeking to protect the late MP’s legacy while safeguarding the party’s electoral strength.
For the people of Tamale Central, the immediate priority remains mourning their representative and supporting his family. However, as the NDC prepares to chart the path forward, the process of selecting a new candidate will inevitably draw attention from across the political spectrum.
Hon. Asiedu Nketiah’s message serves as both a caution and a call to unity—urging members to place the collective good above personal ambition. “Let’s not rush over each other,” he stressed, “because in doing so, we may end up dishonouring his memory.”
The NDC is expected to announce the roadmap for the by-election in the coming weeks after consultations within its political committee. Until then, the party leadership has signalled its intention to focus on healing, unity, and the dignified remembrance of a fallen comrade.
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