The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has called on stakeholders in Ghana’s governance space to promote and ensure that the upcoming Akwatia Constituency parliamentary by-election is conducted peacefully.
The religious grouping said that it had become necessary in the wake of incidents of violence as reported at the recent partial rerun of 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North parliamentary contest.
“The concern of the GPCC is particularly based on the recent acts of violence witnessed during the parliamentary election rerun of 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency.
“Disturbing reports and video evidence revealing various incidents of assault on citizens, including journalists, voters and a former Member of Parliament during the Ablekuma-North election rerun, have compelled us to make this call on our leaders to address the urgent need for a peaceful by-election in Akwatia and subsequently in any other election in Ghana,” a statement by the council, dated July 29, 2025, said.
Not isolated occurrence
The GPCC said the incidents of violence in the Ablekuma-North partial parliamentary re-run were not isolated occurrences.
“Indeed, they are symptomatic of a broader, alarming trend of electoral violence that threatens the very foundation of our relatively young and fledgling democracy,” it said.
It, however, urged that elections should serve as peaceful platforms for the expression of the will of the people relating to who should lead and govern them based on well-articulated ideas and solutions to societal problems.
“Elections in a democratic society should not be a battleground for attacks on political opponents and citizens. We wish to highlight the fact that the integrity of Ghana's democratic process is at stake, and we must act collectively and decisively to safeguard our democracy,” the GPCC statement said.
Other incidents
The statement referenced the “infamous acts of electoral violence during the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election” and pockets of violence during the 2020 and 2024 general election, citing Techiman South, Ejura, Akwatia, Tolon and Ahafo Ano South West constituencies as unfortunate cases.
“These events underscore a troubling culture of impunity that has been fuelled by political inertia in dealing with the perpetrators of electoral violence over a period.
Following the violence at the recent Ablekuma-North election rerun, some key political party functionaries have called on their members to arm themselves (ostensibly with weapons) for the upcoming Akwatia by-election.
“These incitements prepare the grounds for chaos and violence in our elections.
The GPCC condemns such rhetoric and posits that the failure to hold those who engage in or incite electoral violence accountable only perpetuates a cycle of reprisal attacks and undermines public trust in the security and law enforcement agencies, as well as the entire electoral process,” the statement emphasised.
It urged political parties, security agencies, election officials and citizens “to collectively reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that this upcoming electoral event is conducted in a peaceful, fair and transparent manner.
The GPCC calls on all political stakeholders — including party leaders, candidates and their supporters — to adhere to the principles of non-violence and respect for the rule of law”.
“We call on all religious bodies, especially our GPCC member churches in and around Akwatia, to educate and sensitise their congregations and the society to the dangers of electoral violence and the priceless value of peace.
We urge political parties to engage in constructive dialogue, focusing on issues that matter to the electorate rather than resorting to tactics that escalate tensions and provoke violence,” the statement added.
It urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to implement robust measures that would promote transparency and accountability throughout the electoral process, insisting that election officials must be adequately equipped for the task.
“We also urge the EC to work collaboratively with the Ghana Police Service for the deployment of adequate security personnel to polling stations to not only prevent, but also mitigate potential conflicts,” it said.
