Twelve candidates have been cleared to contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary in Ghana’s Tamale Central Constituency, following a comprehensive vetting process concluded over the weekend.
The primary, scheduled for Sept. 6 at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale, comes in the wake of a by-election triggered by the death of the sitting Member of Parliament in a helicopter crash earlier this year.
Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC and chair of the vetting panel, said all aspirants had met the necessary requirements to proceed. “The calibre of candidates was surprisingly impressive,” Asamoah noted, citing a diverse slate that includes academics, lawyers, doctors, civil engineers, and diplomats. She singled out the participation of three female aspirants as a “refreshing development” in the party’s internal democratic process.
The party leadership has urged contenders to engage in civil, issue-based campaigning. “We expect this primary to set a standard for respectful political discourse,” Asamoah said in a post-vetting statement.
Among the cleared aspirants is Professor Alidu Seidu, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, who emphasized a tone of sobriety and respect in light of the circumstances prompting the by-election. “This campaign should be about ideas, not insults,” Seidu said.
Others struck a more confident note. Dr. Aliu Abdul Hamid, a civil engineer, predicted a decisive victory. “This is not just a contest — it will be a landslide,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajia Mulaika Sualisu, one of the three female candidates, called on delegates—especially women—to rally behind her candidacy. “Leadership should reflect the society it serves,” she said. “It’s time for women to step forward.”
Northern Regional Minister Ali Adolf John urged calm as the contest unfolds. “Unity within the party is paramount,” he said. “We must show that intra-party democracy can thrive without violence.”
The Tamale Central primary is being closely watched as a potential bellwether for the NDC’s internal cohesion ahead of national elections next year.
