The National Peace Council (NPC) has condemned the violence and acts of assault that cast a dark shadow over the parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency on Friday, July 11.
The rerun, necessitated by unresolved disputes stemming from the fiercely contested December 2024 general elections, took place across 19 polling stations and was unfortunately characterised by significant tension and alarming incidents.
In a statement released shortly after the polls closed, the NPC expressed “grave concern” over reports of physical attacks targeting not only journalists but also a former minister of state.
Such acts, the council emphasised, are not merely isolated disturbances but represent “violations of individual rights and threats to the peace and stability of Ghana”.
The most prominent incidents included a brutal assault at the Methodist Polling Station in Odorkor, where a police officer was captured in a viral video assaulting Kwabena Agyekum Banahene of the EIB Network.
This incident, widely circulated on social media, drew swift action from the Ghana Police Service, which confirmed the officer’s interdiction and referral to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation.
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The reporter, identified as Banahene, sustained injuries to his right eye and face, requiring medical attention at the Cocoa Clinic in Kaneshie.
Beyond this attack, two other journalists faced violence while covering the rerun: Salomey Martey of the Multimedia Group was manhandled by an unidentified individual, and Vida Wiafe of Amansan TV (ATV) was subjected to a pepper spray attack at the Methodist Church, St. Peter’s Society polling station.
These assaults on media personnel underscore a worrying trend of increasing dangers for journalists during Ghana’s electoral processes.
In February 2025, five journalists were assaulted while covering the Council of State elections in the Ashanti Region, and the 2020 general elections also saw numerous reports of journalists being attacked, threatened, and in some instances, shot.
Media watchdogs, including the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have consistently highlighted Ghana’s declining press freedom rankings and the persistent issue of impunity for those who attack journalists.
This highlights the pervasive nature of the unrest, affecting both public figures and those whose role is to report on the electoral process.
“The Council strongly condemns these violent acts, including the assault at the Methodist Polling Station in Odorkor, and urges all voters, security personnel, and observers to remain calm, exercise restraint, and allow the Electoral Commission and security agencies to carry out their duties peacefully,” the NPC statement affirmed.
While commending the Ghana Police Service for their prompt response to the viral video incident, the Peace Council stressed the need for a unified front against political violence.
They urged leaders and supporters of both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) – Ghana’s two dominant political forces – to publicly denounce and actively work to prevent such occurrences.
Election-related violence has been a persistent challenge in Ghana’s democratic journey, with the December 2024 general elections themselves witnessing fatalities and widespread clashes between supporters of the NPP and NDC.
Reports from the Institute for War and Peace Reporting indicate that at least six people died during the December 2024 elections, despite commitments from political groups to prevent such bloodshed following the eight deaths recorded in the 2020 elections.
Emphasizing the importance of justice, the NPC called upon the police to conduct thorough investigations into all reported incidents and ensure that “all perpetrators are brought to book.”
This call aligns with broader demands from civil society organizations and international bodies for accountability to break the cycle of impunity that has often characterized election violence in Ghana.
“The NPC is closely monitoring the situation and calls on all stakeholders to prioritize peace and uphold democratic values throughout the electoral process,” the release concluded.
The Council’s intervention joins a chorus of voices from civil society and political figures who are collectively appealing for calm and accountability in the wake of the Ablekuma North rerun, a critical test of Ghana’s commitment to peaceful and fair elections.
The outcome of the rerun, involving 6,839 votes in the 19 polling stations, is set to significantly impact the balance of power in Ghana’s Parliament, making the peaceful conclusion of the process even more paramount.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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