President Mahama promised me MCE role but some people changed it - Umar Sanda

Independent candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election, Alhaji Umar Sanda Mohammed, has opened up about his political journey and the controversy surrounding his bid to become Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).

Alhaji Umar Sanda describes himself as “a community guy, a simple man,” who has served as an assembly member in Nima for nearly two decades.

According to him, he has been a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for more than 30 years, rising through the ranks as a constituency organizer and playing a key role in introducing NDC politics to Ayawaso East in 1992.

Speaking about his attempt to become MCE in an interview with Metro TV on February 19, 2026, he revealed that President John Mahama personally assured him of his appointment.

“I vied for that position very well because I was the most qualified candidate around that time. The president himself told me that he had approved my name. He told me personally at the Jubilee House when I went to greet him. That was the time he said he had approved my name. But all of a sudden, some individuals in the community went and changed everything.”

Alhaji Umar Sanda insists that his long service made him the most qualified candidate.

“I am the longest serving assembly member in the community. I have served for almost 20 years and I have been in the NDC for almost 36 years.

I’m running as an independent candidate because the NDC’s primaries was heavily monetised - Umar Sanda

“That even made me the most qualified candidate at that time. But all of a sudden, the constituency chairman and some individuals went and changed it. I don’t know whether they went to the president or spoke to him but all of a sudden, the thing changed.”

Despite his disappointment, he stressed that he does not blame President Mahama.

“I don’t blame the president on that because the president told me himself. But I know there are individuals who don’t want me to be in that position.”

He suspects that the constituency chairman played a role in influencing the outcome, even though most of the executives were behind him.

“The constituency chairman used some individuals in the hierarchy and did what he wanted to do and he succeeded. That is why this thing happened. I don’t want to touch there because I don’t want to go far on that issue.”

Now contesting as an independent candidate in the Ayawaso East by-election, Alhaji Umar Sanda says his motivation comes from his long-standing service to the people of Nima and Ayawaso East.

For him, the setback over the MCE appointment has only strengthened his resolve to represent his community in parliament.

AM

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