By Daniel Bampoe
The race to become the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East has formally taken shape, with six aspirants picking up nomination forms as the party prepares for a crucial by-election scheduled for March 3, 2026.
The contest follows the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Hon. Mahama Naser Toure, on January 4, 2026, after a short illness. His passing brought to an end more than a decade of representation for one of Accra’s most politically active constituencies and triggered constitutional processes requiring a by-election within 60 days.
Among those seeking the NDC ticket is Mohammed Ramme, the Ayawaso East Constituency Chairman of the party, whose entry into the race signals strong internal competition.
As constituency chairman, Ramme is regarded as a grassroots mobiliser with deep familiarity with the party’s local structures and ward-level dynamics.
Also in the contest is Hajia Amina Adam, the widow of the late MP. Her decision to pick nomination forms has generated intense public discussion, given both the tradition in Ghanaian politics where widows have successfully succeeded their deceased spouses and the religious considerations surrounding widowhood in the predominantly Muslim Ayawaso East Constituency.
Her potential candidacy has drawn both sympathy and scrutiny, making her one of the most talked-about aspirants in the race.
Another high-profile contender is Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria and a former Member of Parliament for Akwatia in the Eastern Region.
Baba Jamal has longstanding personal and political ties to Nima and Ayawaso East, having lived and worked in the area for decades. He previously contested the Ayawaso East NDC primary but lost, and his return to the race is seen by analysts as a blend of experience, name recognition, and renewed ambition following his diplomatic service.
The field also includes Dr. Yakubu Azindow, an educationist, who is positioning himself as a policy-oriented candidate with a focus on human capital development and youth empowerment—issues that resonate strongly within the densely populated urban constituency.
Completing the list of aspirants are Najib Mohammed Sani and Salam Daru, both of whom bring additional diversity to the race.
Their inclusion raises the total number of contenders to six, underscoring the intensity of internal competition within the NDC as it seeks to retain the seat.
The Ayawaso East by-election is widely regarded as politically significant, not only because of the constituency’s history but also due to its symbolic importance within Greater Accra. With multiple aspirants spanning party leadership, diplomacy, academia, and grassroots activism, the NDC primary is expected to be fiercely contested.
