By Prince Ahenkorah
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has moved swiftly to amputate a rebellious limb, expelling Umar Sanda from the party after he declared his intention to contest the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election as an independent candidate. The poll is scheduled for 3 March.
In a terse statement issued on 17 February, General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey confirmed that Sanda’s decision to stand against the party’s officially endorsed candidate constitutes an automatic forfeiture of his membership under the NDC’s constitution. The language was characteristically firm: Sanda is now prohibited from using the party’s name, logo, colours, or any other intellectual property in his campaign.
For the NDC hierarchy, the move is as much about discipline as it is about deterrence. Allowing a disgruntled member to challenge the party’s nominee without consequence would set a dangerous precedent, particularly in a constituency where every vote counts.
The leadership in Accra is acutely aware that by-elections are often referendums on incumbency, and a split in the NDC’s vote could hand the seat to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on a plate.
Sanda’s decision to break ranks suggests deeper fissures within the constituency’s party structure. While Kwetey’s statement refers to a “duly and democratically elected candidate,” the reality on the ground is often messier. Ayawaso East, like many urban constituencies, is a complex web of ethnic allegiances, business interests, and personal loyalties. Sanda’s gamble is that his local standing outweighs the party machine.
The NDC is no stranger to internal rebellions. Previous expulsions have sometimes healed over time, with prodigal sons and daughters welcomed back into the fold after swallowing their pride. But the timing here is critical. With the election just weeks away, the party cannot afford ambiguity. Sanda must be seen as an outsider, not a dissident voice within.
For Sanda, the path forward is fraught. Without the party’s apparatus, funding, and ground game, independent candidacies in Ghana rarely succeed. Yet even a modest vote share could be enough to tip the balance, making him a kingmaker—or a spoiler. In the maths of Ghanaian politics, a few hundred votes either way can determine who governs.
Ayawaso East is more than just another constituency. Its by-election will be scrutinised for signs of broader political trends. For the NDC, holding the seat is essential to maintaining momentum. For the NPP, it is an opportunity to exploit internal divisions.
Sanda’s expulsion clarifies the battle lines. The question now is whether the NDC’s machine can deliver without him or whether his departure will prove a wound that festers.