Defence Minister calls for calm as tensions flare in Ablekuma North parliamentary re-run
The Minister for Defence, Dr Omane Boamah, has called for calm and restraint as tensions continue to rise in the Ablekuma North Constituency, where a closely contested parliamentary re-run has been marred by pockets of violence.
Dr Boamah, who toured the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station alongside the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, urged voters and party supporters to reject violence and allow the process to conclude peacefully.
His remarks followed disturbing scenes at the polling centre, where former Awutu Senya East MP and former Fisheries Minister, Hawa Koomson, was physically assaulted by unidentified individuals.
“This is a civil exercise; we are not at war. What we experienced at Ayawaso West Wuogon should not be repeated. People must be able to exercise their franchise in peace,” Dr Boamah told journalists on Friday.
He stressed that any violent incidents would be fully investigated and that the Ghana Police Service remains responsible for maintaining order at all 19 polling stations involved in the re-run.
“Any challenges will be addressed by the Ghana Police Service, and we trust they will do it,” he added.
Voting at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station was temporarily suspended after the attack. Eyewitnesses said a group of men arrived in a pickup truck, forced their way onto the premises—despite a visible police presence—and assaulted the former MP.
A high-stakes contest
The Ablekuma North parliamentary re-run is intended to conclude the collation of the 2024 parliamentary election results, with 261 polling stations already collated.
Currently, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, leads with 32,512 votes, holding a slim margin of just 48 votes over the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, who has garnered 32,464 votes.
The seat remains hotly contested, as 6,639 eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots in the 19 polling stations where the re-run is taking place.
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