Mr Kufuor's surprise decision to exit the upcoming Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency NPP primaries slated for Saturday, December 29 comes three days to the polls.

Mr Kufuor who had been successfully vetted for the role explained that he pulled out of the contest because of the respect he has for the late MP Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko and his family particularly one of his wives Madam Lydia Alhassan.

"It is with deep sadness that I announce the withdrawal of my Candidacy for the AYAWASO WEST WUOGON Constituency primaries of the New Patriotic Party. After successfully going through vetting, I was looking forward to sharing my vision and working with all in the constituency," Mr Kufuor said in a statement.

"When I declared my intention to contest, Madam Lydia Alhassan had NOT DECLARED her intention. We belong to the same church-family and the late Hon. Kyeremateng Agyarko was a man whom I greatly respected and liked. He was like a big brother to me. Considering Madam Lydia's current state of mourning for the father of her children, with whom she worked politically in the constituency, and in honour of his memory, I am immediately stepping down.

"To everyone who may have lost something out of this decision, I sincerely apologise and appreciate your support".

He also insisted that he was not prevailed upon or pressured to withdraw from the contest but did it out of his own free will.

The Electoral Commission set Thursday, January 31, 2019, as the date for the Ayawaso West-Wuogon constituency by-election following the demise of Mr Agyarko on November 21, 2018.

The date was agreed upon at an emergency meeting of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) on Monday, December 24.

Background

The vacant Ayawaso West Wuogon seat was held by NPP MP Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko until his demise on November 21, 2018, which necessitated the conduct of a by-election in the constituency.

Read Mr Kufuor's statement below;

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF MY CANDIDACY

It is with deep sadness that I announce the withdrawal of my Candidacy for the AYAWASO WEST WUOGON Constituency primaries of the New Patriotic Party. After successfully going through vetting, I was looking forward to sharing my vision and working with all in the constituency.

When I declared my intention to contest, Madam Lydia Alhassan had NOT DECLARED her intention. We belong to the same church-family and the late Hon. Kyeremateng Agyarko was a man whom I greatly respected and liked. He was like a big brother to me. Considering Madam Lydia's current state of mourning for the father of her children, with whom she worked politically in the constituency, and in honour of his memory, I am immediately stepping down.

To everyone who may have lost something out of this decision, I sincerely apologise and appreciate your support.

Running for this primaries are very talented and committed individuals, and their ideas are all to move the constituency forward. I wish them all the very best of luck and hope that our party comes out stronger than ever after this contested election.

Thank you all for your sacrifice and the goodwill messages I have received since I declared my intention.

I remain committed in service to the New Patriotic Party, the constituency and the Nation.

God bless our homeland Ghana.

Rev. Edward Agyekum Kufuor