Accra: One of the independent candidates in the just-ended Ayawaso East by-election, Mohammed Umar Sanda, has reacted to reports of his dismissal from the National Democratic Congress (NDC). According to him, the party did not treat him with respect and denied him the opportunity to contest in the election, which ultimately influenced his decision to run as an independent candidate.
According to Ghana Web, Umar Sanda expressed his grievances during an interview with GhanaWeb TV on March 3, 2026, amid the Ayawaso East by-election. He revealed that after being dismissed by the party, he was later approached for negotiations. He criticized this approach as disrespectful, particularly highlighting that NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, visited his constituency and bypassed his house without acknowledging him. Instead, Nketiah went on a party platform to warn Sanda to reconsider his decision to run independently, which Sanda viewed as an affront to his dignity.
Sanda further explained that following the public announcement of his dismissal, he received numerous calls urging him to rejoin the party. However, he felt that if the NDC genuinely needed him, they should have officially revoked the dismissal letter. He expressed his discontent, stating, "Nothing like that happened. You cannot sack me in writing and then call me back without reversing it. The National Chairman stood on a platform and gave me three days to return but I don't think that was the right approach. He even passed through my house without greeting me, yet went on stage to warn me. After serving the NDC for 36 years, I believe I deserve respect."
Despite his objections to the treatment he received, Umar Sanda refrained from speaking ill of Asiedu Nketiah, acknowledging his elder status. However, he maintained that the manner in which the chairman addressed him was inappropriate. In the by-election, Mohammed Umar Sanda contested alongside four other candidates but ultimately lost to Baba Jamal, who represented the NDC.