A former Energy Minister and aspiring National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko, has criticised the heavy police presence at polling stations during the ongoing Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election, describing it as a negative reflection on Ghana’s democratic maturity.
Speaking to JoyNews on Tuesday, Mr Agyarko acknowledged that security deployment may be necessary to ensure order in the by-election but argued that it highlights a deeper issue in the country’s political culture.
“It’s good to have police presence, but it speaks negatively of our evolution in our democracy,” he said. “Do we need to be forced or compelled to conduct ourselves decently and properly at voting centres?”
He emphasised that true discipline in a democratic society should stem from citizens’ internal sense of right and wrong, rather than external enforcement.
“Discipline does not mean someone is forcing you to do something. Discipline means you know what is right and you do it, and you know what is wrong and you desist from it without anybody telling you,” Mr Agyarko stressed.
The Ayawaso East by-election, triggered by the death of the sitting National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP, Mahama Naser Toure, has seen significant security measures, including the deployment of large numbers of police officers to polling stations to prevent any disturbances.
Mr Agyarko also addressed the typically low voter turnout in by-elections, attributing it to public perceptions rather than solely security concerns.
“By-elections are not that patronised in this country,” he noted. “Secondly, by-elections in strongholds are presumed as foregone conclusions. And that in itself depresses voter turnout.”
He called on journalists, political actors, and citizens to foster a culture of civic responsibility and peaceful participation based on conviction, not compulsion.
“I would wish that we get to that stage in the evolution of our democracy,” he added.
The NPP figure further defended the party’s internal democratic processes, particularly its bottom-up voting approach for leadership positions, describing it as a vital strategy for renewal and granting fresh mandates rather than a mere ritual.
Voting in the Ayawaso East by-election continues amid heightened political interest, though historical trends suggest lower participation compared to general elections.
Mr Agyarko urged greater voter engagement to strengthen Ghana’s democratic institutions.