New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for the Ablekuma North Constituency, Nana Akua Afriyie, has alleged widespread violence and intimidation during the rerun of the parliamentary elections in the constituency. She claims that chaos was recorded in 16 out of the 19 polling stations where the rerun is being held.
Addressing journalists after visiting several polling centres, Akua Afriyie said the situation on the ground was alarming, accusing unidentified individuals of deliberately deploying thugs to disrupt the electoral process and suppress voter turnout.
“Everyone has seen what is happening at Ablekuma North. Today I have visited 16 polling stations and with the exception of Odorkor 4 & 5, everywhere is chaotic. Wherever you go, they have deployed hoodlums, thugs, macho men — all. They want to suppress votes that will be cast in my favour. They know that everyone that will come out will vote for me. People are afraid to come out and vote,” she stated.
Despite the disturbances, she called on her supporters to remain courageous and proceed to vote, assuring them that there is security on the ground to protect them.
“I am urging my supporters to come out and vote. There is protection,” she added.
Reports from some polling stations, including St. Peter’s and the Light of Gospel Miracle Church, indicated incidents of violence. Akua Afriyie confirmed that two of her polling agents were attacked, with one currently hospitalised. She herself and a female agent also sustained visible facial injuries. Hawa Koomson, Member of Parliament, was also reported to have been injured during one of the clashes.
The Electoral Commission is supervising the rerun in 19 polling stations across the Ablekuma North Constituency. The rerun was necessitated by unresolved voter verification issues in the December 2024 general elections. Eighteen of the originally disputed 37 polling stations have already been validated, with today’s vote expected to complete the final collation process.
Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, in response to the reported disturbances, issued a stern warning that any acts of violence or breaches of electoral conduct would be treated as criminal offenses and prosecuted accordingly. He emphasized that no individual, regardless of political affiliation, would be spared if found culpable.
As the rerun continues under tight security, political observers and electoral stakeholders are monitoring developments closely in what has become one of the most heated and contested parliamentary races in the capital.