The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is demanding answers from the government over what it describes as a breach of democratic norms and a failure of state security during the recent parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North, raising alarm about the credibility of future electoral processes.
Speaking on Channel One’s Newsroom on Monday, the party’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of orchestrating a deliberate security vacuum that allowed politically aligned vigilante groups to intimidate voters and influence the outcome of the rerun.
Ahiagbah alleged that the state’s security apparatus was “intentionally sidelined” during the critical election process and replaced with individuals loyal to the ruling party. “Rather than deploy official security forces to safeguard the electoral process, the government stood back and allowed party thugs to fill that vacuum,” he said.
Describing the violence that marred the rerun as “coordinated and targeted,” Ahiagbah asserted that the atmosphere of fear was designed to suppress turnout among opposition voters. “They didn’t just want to win; they needed to create conditions that would make it difficult for us to compete fairly,” he stated.
The rerun was ordered following disputes surrounding the outcome of the December 2024 parliamentary elections in the constituency. But according to the NPP, the rerun has only deepened mistrust in Ghana’s electoral process, particularly with unresolved incidents of violence and alleged voter suppression.
“What’s even more troubling,” Ahiagbah added, “is that no arrests have been made despite clear reports of intimidation. This sends a dangerous signal to the electorate about impunity in our political system.”
The NPP is now calling on the Electoral Commission, the National Security Council, and civil society organizations to investigate the conduct of the rerun and ensure that electoral security protocols are reformed ahead of future elections.
Political analysts have warned that recurring incidents of election-related violence and allegations of state complicity undermine democratic consolidation and erode public trust in electoral institutions.
As Ghana prepares for a series of by-elections and local polls later this year, stakeholders say the Ablekuma North episode should serve as a wake-up call for urgent reforms in electoral security coordination and political accountability.
