The Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, has heavily criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for rejecting Hajia Amina Adam’s request to have her vetting process done virtually in the forthcoming Ayawaso East By-Election Primaries.
According to a report filed by Joy News, Hajia Amina, wife of the late Ahmed Nasser Toure, MP for Ayawaso East pleaded with the party to grant her request as she was still mourning her husband while pending Islamic widowhood rites.
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The issue has sparked controversy on social media as Women’s Advocate and PNC General Secretary, Janet Nabla has the NDC quizzed the party’s leadership on gender equality, adding that some party leaders are strongly defending the act against one of their own due to personal gains.
Dankwah, who has been highly praised for his works as a credible pollster, has also waded into the issue, backlashing the NDC via posts on his Facebook account.
According to him, he believes Nabla has a point, adding that there are rules, exceptions, and compromises.
He argued that, if the party were to do without fear and would not duel on favoritism, all other candidates who are Muslims could have agreed to see Amina’s vetting be done virtually.
“If the party was not going to relax the rules for fear of being accused of favoritism, the other candidates, who are all Muslims, could have agreed among themselves that the party grant her wishes for the virtual meeting”, he posted on his official Facebook account.
He said that this would have painted a symbolic message that the NDC is sensitive to its religious beliefs and its followers.
Dankwah mentioned that the constituency has 72% of its constituencies being Muslims and 74% sunnah, describing its capital, Nima, as the heartbeat of all Zongos in Ghana via a Facebook post.
He added that, should the other contestants have concurred, that could have earned them respect, admiration, and even votes, but it was a clear NO.
He stressed that it was a bait to have the good people of Nima say she had broken the siddha rules, which they knew was a sensitive issue for the constituency.
“Sometimes, in politics, it is the small gestures that matter,” he added.
A breakdown of Ayawaso East Demography Education: JHS 42%, SHS 32%, Tertiary 6% and No Formal Education 20%. Religion: Islam 72%, Christians 27%, and Others 1%.
Ethnic Groups: Mole Dagbani 25%, Akans 15%, Gurma 11%, Grusi 7%, Hausa 7%, Mande 5%, Kotokoli 5%, Ga Adamgme 5%, Chamba 3%, Ewe 3%, and others 14%. Party affiliations: NDC 65%, NPP 23%, Floating voters 7%, Others 1%, and Not Disclosed 4%.
The NDC parliamentary primary is slated for February 7, 2026, while the Electoral Commission has fixed March 3, 2026, for the by-election in the constituency.
The unfortunate passing of Naser Toure happened on January 4 after a short period of illness. Before his departure, he served the people of Nima from 2013 to 2024.
He also served in Parliament as the Vice-Chair for the Energy Committee. Ahead of the by-election, Hajia Amina, wife of the former MP, and five others are vying for the seat.
They are the party’s constituency chairman, Mohammed Ramme, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal, and Dr Yakubu Azindow. The others are Najib Mohammed Sani and Salam Daru.
By: Linus Siaw Nartey
