NDC pulls out of Abuakwa North by-election

The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected not to contest the Abuakwa North by-election scheduled for March 29.

A statement signed by general secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party decided not to contest the seat because it does not want to benefit from the murder of the late J B Danquah-Adu, who was killed February 9 in his Shiashie residence in Accra.

“We were stunned by the death of the late MP JB Danquah-Adu, particularly circumstances surrounding his gruesome murder that brought the nation to a standstill. The NDC is of the opinion that the scar of grief and sorrow emanating from such barbaric act will take a longer time to heal and it will be appropriate to desist from any act that has the tendency to aggravate the pain that JB’s family has been subjected to.

“We wish to indicate that we share in the grief and trauma the late MP’s family, constituents, and indeed the whole country is going through, therefore it would be insensitive and unsympathetic on the part of the NDC’s leadership and followers to actively participate in such by-election.

“The NDC does not want to be beneficiaries of a criminal act, and, we are aware of the disaffection this decision will bring among our supporters because Abuakwa North happens to be one of the constituencies, which NDC considers winnable.

“We wish, however, to urge our supporters to channel their efforts towards winning the seat in the November 2016 elections. The NEC wishes, on behalf of the party, to extend our condolences to the bereaved family of the late JB Danquah-Adu and the NPP as a whole,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the NPP on Tuesday elected Gifty Twum Ampofo as its parliamentary candidate for the by-election. The police are also prosecuting 19-year-old Daniel Asiedu, who has confessed to the murder of the late MP.