Media personality Kwame Afrifa Mensah, popularly known as Okatakyie Afrifa, and six other persons accused of allegedly disrupting the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Constituency Executive Elections in the Afigya Sekyere East Constituency have been granted bail by the Nsuta Circuit Court.
The court, presided over by His Lordship Simon Nkatiah Gagah, granted Mr Afrifa bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties, one of whom must be a government employee earning at least GH¢4,000 per month.
The six other accused persons—Osman Awuni, 44, a driver; Kwabena Tsikata, 36, a private investigator; Bashiru Salifu, alias Tinny, 39, an electrician; Kofi Antwi, 42, a driver; Paul Kofi Mensah, 41, a driver; and Simon Ndana, 27, also a driver—were each granted bail of GH¢50,000 with two sureties.
Mr Afrifa, 43, appeared in court in an ambulance and was seen wearing bandages on his head and a cervical collar around his neck. He was assisted as he moved to and from the courtroom.
Police allege planned disruption
Chief Inspector Owusu Kobi Moses, who led the prosecution, told the court that the accused persons were arrested following intelligence suggesting that a group of alleged vigilantes had been mobilised from Accra and Kumasi to disrupt the NPP constituency elections at Wiamoase on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
According to the prosecution, the intelligence emerged during a regional security meeting convened by the Ashanti North Regional Police Commander, DCOP Felix Apedo, on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
The Regional Operations Unit and the Police Intelligence Directorate were subsequently tasked to verify the information and take preventive measures to avert any potential disturbance.
The prosecution alleged that at about 7:45 a.m. on election day, Mr Afrifa led a group of approximately 30 suspected vigilante members to the Seventh Day Adventist Church polling station at Wiamoase.
The group was allegedly travelling in a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GN 7671-17, a Toyota Tundra pickup with an unknown registration number and about five motorbikes.
Police allege assault and disruption
Chief Inspector Moses told the court that when security personnel approached the group to establish the reason for their presence, some members allegedly became aggressive and assaulted police officers.
The prosecution further alleged that the group disrupted the electoral process by throwing electoral materials onto the ground.
Five of the accused persons were subsequently arrested at the scene, while others allegedly escaped.
The prosecution said Kwabena Tsikata later followed the police vehicle in the Toyota Land Cruiser and was arrested subsequently.
Alleged motive for disruption
The court was told that Paul Kofi Mensah, in his caution statement, allegedly admitted that the group had been engaged by Okatakyie Afrifa to disrupt the elections.
The prosecution alleged that the motive was linked to claims that some delegates believed to be loyal to Mr Afrifa had been removed from the electoral register.
The prosecution further alleged that Mr Afrifa, in a handwritten caution statement, admitted engaging the other accused persons and some suspects currently at large to assist in serving a court order.
Police recover alleged weapons and suspected substances
The prosecution also told the court that police recovered several items during searches conducted in connection with the arrests.
The items allegedly included a spent BB cartridge recovered from Kwabena Tsikata and Bashiru Salifu, a NATO pepper spray and three toffees suspected to contain narcotic substances.
Another NATO pepper spray and a live BB cartridge were allegedly recovered from Paul Kofi Mensah.
The police told the court that efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects who remained at large.
Because investigations are still ongoing, the accused persons were not called upon to enter pleas.
The case has been adjourned to August 13, 2026, when the accused persons are expected to plead to the charges.
