Voting in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency elections in Bantama was disrupted on Saturday after a group of heavily built men reportedly stormed the election centre at the Kumasi Cultural Centre, destroying electoral materials and causing panic among delegates.
Three individuals, including the Bantama Constituency Organiser, Shaibu Bamba, and the Adoato Polling Station Chairman, identified only as Abu, have been arrested in connection with the incident.
A third suspect was also taken into custody by the police.
The disturbances reportedly occurred shortly after the Ashanti Regional Police Commander had visited the venue and was leaving the premises.
Eyewitnesses said about seven heavily built men invaded the centre and vandalised election materials, including ballot boxes, ballot papers, plastic tables and chairs, bringing the electoral process to an abrupt halt.
The election, which involved 1,218 delegates, had already been overshadowed by controversy following a court injunction secured by three party members who alleged that their names had been unlawfully removed from the party’s voter register.
As a result of the legal challenge, the Electoral Commission declined to supervise the election, compelling the party to organise and conduct the process internally.
It was during this self-supervised exercise that the violence erupted.
One person sustained injuries during the disturbances and was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The three suspects have since been transferred to the Ashanti Regional Police Command to assist with investigations.
Police have declared the election centre a crime scene and have launched a full investigation into the incident.
