Satirist Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM) has drawn a sharp contrast between recent by-election decisions in Akwatia and Tamale Central, questioning the opposition New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) decision to step aside in the latter contest.
He noted that in Akwatia, the NPP managed a narrow win over the National Democratic Congress (NDC), securing 19,269 votes against 17,206.
“In Akwatia, the margin was very, very close. So of course, that closeness gives the vim to say, ‘No, no, no, we have to do it again.’ But in Tamale Central, with that huge margin, people are wondering: is it really out of respect for Mutala, or the fear of losing again?”
KSM further pressed the point with a hypothetical scenario. “If, for example, in Tamale Central, the margin of victory for the NDC had been just 200 or maybe 1,000, do you think the NPP would pull off? Would they say, ‘Out of respect, we’re not contesting’? You think of it and let me know your answer.”
Despite these suspicions, he stressed that the issue must ultimately be anchored in constitutional provisions.
“The truth of the matter is this: if the law requires that we do a by-election, that’s the law. If we have decided that this thing doesn’t work anymore, then let’s go and change the constitution. Not because of sympathy or respect, but simply because the constitution says this is what we should do.”
He ended with a blunt reminder about the realities of Ghanaian politics. “Politics is not a benevolent game. It is not about seeding power to your opponent. Until the law changes, my dear friends, the law is the law.”
