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The National Peace Council (NPC) has criticised the violent incidents and assaults that erupted during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on Friday, July 11, 2025.
In an official statement, the Council expressed deep concern over reported attacks on journalists and a former Minister of State during the electoral exercise, describing them as violations of individual rights and threats to national peace and democratic stability.
The Council particularly condemned the assault at the Odorkor Methodist Church polling station and welcomed the interdiction of the police officer captured in a viral video attacking a journalist.
They further called on leaders of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to collectively denounce political violence and ensure discipline among their supporters.
“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.”
This comes after tensions flared during the rerun at multiple polling centers.
At the Odorkor Methodist Church station, former Awutu Senya East MP and former Fisheries Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, allegedly discharged pepper spray during a heated confrontation, leading to a temporary halt in voting.
The situation escalated at St. Peter’s polling station, where unidentified individuals believed to be political thugs attacked journalists and party agents.
Victims included NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Afriyie and a female polling agent, both of whom sustained visible facial injuries.
Hawa Koomson was also reportedly injured in the melee.
The rerun became necessary after the EC cited verification and collation issues affecting 19 out of 37 polling stations during the December 2024 general elections.
Results from the remaining 18 polling stations had already been certified.
The Ablekuma North constituency has been without a Member of Parliament since 2024 due to protracted legal and procedural disputes.
The Electoral Commission maintains that this rerun is critical to concluding the electoral process and restoring democratic representation to the area.
Voting officially ended on Friday, with collation underway. However, the election was marked by low voter turnout.
The National Peace Council has called on all stakeholders to prioritize peace, uphold democratic values, and allow due process to take its course.
