The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has Ghana Police Services for interdicting the commended the police officer who assaulted the GHOne TV journalist, Banahene at the St. Peters Polling station at the Ablekuma North parliamentary elections rerun.
The Ghana Police in a letter dated, 11th July, 2025, interdicted and withdrawn the officer identified as the Adentan Divisional Commander, Lumor, from the polling station and the electoral process.
In a statement by the CODEO, it praised the swift interdiction by the Ghana Police allegedly involved in assaulting the GHOne TV journalist and further urged for similar alacrity in prosecuting the perpetrators to serve as a deterrent.
“The Ghana Police Service is however commended for immediately interdicting the officer allegedly involved in the assault of a journalist. The Coalition urges the police to move with alacrity to apprehend and prosecute all persons involved in the acts of violence. Perpetrators must face the full force of the law to deter others from engaging in such undemocratic practices during elections and clamp down on impunity. ” the statement read.
However, CODEO expressed deep concern over the conduct of police officers during the Odorkor election re-run, particularly at the St. Peter’s Society Polling Station, where officers stationed at the gate reportedly stood aside as thugs stormed the premises and assaulted polling agents and two politicians.
The Coalition described this as the most alarming observation of the day, noting that similar police inaction was evident during the 2024 general elections and transition period. CODEO warned that such a pattern points to the growing emasculation of the Ghana Police Service, a development it says poses a clear and present danger to the country’s democratic stability.
To address this, the Coalition has called on President John Mahama and the Police Council to invoke Article 202(2) of the Constitution and institute a full inquiry into the conduct of police officers during politically charged assignments, stressing that urgent and decisive action is needed to restore public trust and uphold law and order in future electoral processes.
Although CODEO indicated that it did not deploy observers to the 19 polling stations involved, it monitored through traditional and social media platforms revealed incidents of vote buying, intimidation, and attacks on voters, poll workers, journalists, and politicians.
“The most worrying observation was the actions of police officers guarding the gate to the St. Peter’s Society Polling Station in Odokar, who basically stepped aside as thugs forced their way into the polling station to assault agents and two politicians. This posture of the police was observed during the 2024 elections and transition. “
“The ermasculation of the Police Service is a clear and present danger that must be fully addressed by all stakeholders. CODEO calls on President John Mahama and the Police Council under the Article 202 (2) of the Constitution, to exercise its powers of Control and Direction of the Inspector General of Police to institute an inquiry into the recent action of police officers in the handling of police duties involving political actors.” it stated.
The Interior Minister, Muntarka Mubarak has also assured a probe into the pockets of violence that were recorded at the polling stations, indicating that they will be treated as criminal cases.