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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described as sheer cowardice, the incumbent National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) decision to pull out of the Abuakwa North by- election.

The Electoral Commission has scheduled March 29 for the exercise following the stabbing to death of the NPP MP for the area, Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu.

The NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said the party is not fielding any candidate in the by-election, because it is “stunned by the death of the late MP, particularly circumstances surrounding his gruesome murder that brought the nation to a standstill.”

We don’t want to benefit from a criminal act – NDC

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho explained further that the party’s decision was purely borne out of reverence for the late MP.

“We have taken this decision in the best interest of the party, We think that this is not the time to play politics. We want to contribute to commiserate with JB’s family, We believe that what happened was a criminal act and we don’t want to benefit from a criminal act…,”he explained.

NDC are cowards

But in what appears to be a surprising posture, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Kingston Ohemeng Kissi dismissed the NDC’s reasons for not participating in the election, saying the latter pulled out because it was afraid it would lose the seat.

“This is totally cowardly..Has NDC forgotten about the death of Prof. Mills? If they want to pay respect to J.B Danquah’s family, pay the same respect to Prof. Atta Mills’ family because when Prof. Atta Mills of blessed memory passed on in some few hours, the NDC swore in another President…”he argued, although that clearly was a constitutional requirement which could not be breached.