Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has fiercely condemned the violent scenes that marred the parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North, describing them as a betrayal of Ghana’s democratic values.
Speaking to JoyNews during the tense electoral process, Dr Bawumia said reports of attacks on NPP supporters and candidates were “very disturbing” and undermined the peaceful electoral environment Ghanaians have long cherished.
“This is not the democracy that we want to see in Ghana,” he said. “Our supporters are being attacked by thugs in the presence of the police, who have been unable to protect them.”
The Electoral Commission ordered a rerun in 19 polling stations within the constituency after disputed results from the December 2024 general elections were deemed unauthenticated.
However, what was expected to be a peaceful democratic process took a violent turn at the St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church polling station in Odorkor. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as a group of unidentified “macho men” stormed the venue in a pickup truck and on motorbikes, overwhelming the limited security presence.
Disturbing footage captured the moment former Fisheries Minister and ex-MP, Mavis Hawa Koomson, was violently attacked. She was reportedly shoved to the ground and stomped in the chest and groin before police officers intervened.
Also injured in the mayhem were NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Afriyie and a female party agent, both of whom required medical attention following the attack.
The NPP has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of failing to uphold their pledge to protect Ghana’s democracy, a claim the NDC is yet to respond to officially.
“This election rerun was supposed to bring closure not bloodshed,” said Dr Bawumia. “Ghana deserves better.”
Civil society groups and election observers have called for an urgent investigation into the incidents and are demanding accountability for the perpetrators, including those in uniform who allegedly stood by without intervening.
As tensions remain high in the constituency, the Electoral Commission has yet to comment on whether results from the affected stations will be upheld or suspended.
